16
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1985
THE EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE CENTRE BEING BUILT BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AT WAN CHAI RECLAMATION WOULD BE READY IN 1988, HE CONGRATULATED THE TDC FOR TAKING ON THIS EXCITING PROJECT.
ON THE INDUSTRIAL FRONT, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN A RISE IN INVESTMENT IN NEW PLANT AND MACHINERY DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, REFLECTING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+THIS SHOULD HELP US MAINTAIN AN EDGE OVER OUR COMPETITORS, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE TAKE-UP OF NEW LEASES AT OUR INDUSTRIAL ESTATES HAD ACCELERATED.
-
ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR PASSPORT
***.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN TO DO ITS UTMOST TO OBTAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT AND THERE ARE ALREADY ENCOURAGING SIGNS THAT THIS WILL BE ACCORDED.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE DWELT ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FORMAT OF THE NEW PASSPORT WOULD BE SUCH THAT IT WAS READILY IDENTIFIABLE AS A DOCUMENT ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
+AS HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED. ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING
MADE FOR THESE PASSPORTS TO BE ISSUED WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1987.
→THIS WILL ENABLE THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF ISSUING PASSPORTS FOR A TEN-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD TO CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
+ IT WILL ALSO GIVE MAXIMUM TIME TO THIRD COUNTRIES TO GROW ACCUSTOMED TO THE NEW PASSPORTS, SIR EDWARD ADDED.
HE WENT ON TO NOTE THAT DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE HONG KONG BILL IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, THE MINISTER OF STATE SAID THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THE WORDING OF A STATEMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT TO SATISFY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN THIRD COUNTRIES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG.
/+I AM