WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1934
- 5-
GAP IN ADVISORY BODY FILLED
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A MOTION FOR THE REGISTRAR GENERAL TO SERVE AS AN X-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION'S ADVISORY BOARD IN PLACE OF THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY THE HON E.P. HO EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD BEEN NOTED AT A RECENT REVIEW OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CORPORATION'S ADVISORY BOARD THAT, ON THE OFFICIAL SIDE THERE WAS BOTH DUPLICATION IN THE AREA OF TRADE, SINCE BOTH THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE AND HE HIMSELF WERE MEMBERS, AND A GAP IN THE AREA OF INSURANCE.
+THIS HAS AR ISEN BECAUSE PRIOR TO AUGUST 1, 1982 WHEN MY POST WAS CREATED, AND TOOK OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY POLICY, AND THE PLACE ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD, FROM THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE LATTER ALSO HAD INSURANCE POLICY WITHIN HIS SCHEDULE.+
THE RESOLUTION SOUGHT TO REPLACE THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE WITH THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, AS AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER, SINCE THE LATTER HAD STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN EXPERTISE IN INSURANCE, MR HO SAID.
PRIVILEGES FOR VISA OFFICE
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A BILL TO PUT THE CHINESE VISA OFFICE ON THE SAME FOOTING AS CONSULATES-GENERAL AND COMMONWEALTH COMMISSIONS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG, WAS GIVEN A SECOND READING BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE CHINA VISA OFFICE (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) BILL 1984, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS SAID THAT THE OFFICE OPENED IN HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER 1981 AND SINCE THEN IT HAD HELPED MANY THOUSANDS OF TRAVELLERS OBTAIN VISAS FOR ENTRY INTO CHINA.
AS IT WAS SUBJECT TO THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND ITS DIRECTOR AND STAFF WERE CAREER DIPLOMATS, IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT IT SHOULD ENJOY CERTAIN DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES. SOME COULD BE CONFERRED BY ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT BUT OTHERS REQUIRED LEGISLATION, MR THOMAS SAID.
AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAD BEEN ARRIVED AT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, SAID MR THOMAS, FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF A BRITISH CONSULATE-GENERAL AT SHANGHAI AND FOR A CHINESE CONSULATE- GENERAL TO BE OPENED IN MANCHESTER. DURING DISCUSSION OF THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO BE ENJOYED BY THE OFFICES OF THESE TWO CONSULATES-GENERAL THE CHINESE SIDE PROPOSED THE QUESTION OF SUCH MATTERS FOR THE CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG BE SETTLED AT THE SAME TIME.
/+IT WAS .....