HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -15 March 1989
香港立法局
————一九八九年三月十五日
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related to border controls including immigration, customs procedures and traffic quotas.
Hong Kong Government officials also take part in a variety of meetings and discussions with Chinese officials as part of the British side of the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) and Land Commission. Indeed, several Hong Kong Government officials are currently in Peking attending the 12th meeting of the JLG.
The Administration welcomes these visits and exchanges which it feels will enhance mutual understanding. As I have just described many of these meetings are regular fixed events. Many more are one-off events occurring in response to specific needs. Although it is impossible therefore to plan the frequency of such exchanges we expect that, as in recent years, there will be an increased number of such contacts in 1989.
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MR. BARROW: Sir, in addition to the many exchanges on specific issues referred to by the Chief Secretary, is it also the intention to organize increased visits to China by civil servants to provide broadly based briefings on the workings of the Civil Service and on what makes Hong Kong tick?
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, there were a number of such visits organized last year, two by legal affairs groups, and one by the Civil Service. We expect those to continue in the years ahead.
MR. TAI: Sir, could I ask the Secretary whether the intrusions by Chinese gunboats into Hong Kong waters and the recent shooting incidents form part of the subject matter of discussions between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Government, and what is the progress of these discussions?
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sir, matters such as this are discussed by the Political Advisor's Office.
MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, will the Administration assure this Council that these exchanges will not result in interventions by the People's Republic of China over the internal administration of the affairs of Hong Kong?
CHIEF SECRETARY: Yes, Sir.