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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989
NUMEROUS DEPARTMENTAL CONTACTS WITH CHINA
ALMOST EVERY GOVERNMENT BRANCH OR DEPARTMENT IN HONG CONTACTS WITH ITS COUNTERPART IN CHINA AND THESE CONTACTS NUMEROUS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
BARROW,
KONG HAS
ARE VERY TOLD THE
SIR DAVID LANDS
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARTIN SAID THAT TO GIVE ONLY ONE EXAMPLE IN 1988, OFFICIALS FROM THE AND WORKS BRANCH MADE 18 VISITS TO CHINA TO DISCUSS MATTERS SUCH AS HONG KONG'S WATER SUPPLY OR TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON TIDES.
"THE NATURE AND FREQUENCY OF WORKING LEVEL EXCHANGES CHINESE GOVERNMENT VARIES GREATLY.
WITH THE
"THERE ARE ALMOST DAILY MEETINGS BY BORDER LIAISON OFFICIALS FROM POLICE, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WITH THEIR OPPOSITE NUMBERS IN SHENZHEN то DISCUSS MATTERS AS DIVERSE AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION TO SMUGGLING OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, SIR DAVID SAID.
"THIS IS AUGMENTED COMMUNICATION, HE ADDED.
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BY A TELEPHONE LINK FOR URGENT
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT MANY OF THESE EXCHANGES, SUCH AS THE JOINT WORKING GROUP ON ROAD TRAFFIC LINKS, TOOK PLACE REGULARLY AND WERE ORGANISED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE BORDER LIAISON REVIEW SYSTEM.
"PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE IS THE JOINT WORKING GROUP ON CONTROLS AND ENTRY/EXIT POINTS WHICH MEETS QUARTERLY AND DEALS WITH ALL MATTERS RELATED TO BORDER CONTROLS INCLUDING IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND TRAFFIC QUOTAS, HE SAID.
H
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO TOOK PART IN A VARIETY OF MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESK OFFICIALS AS PART OF THE BRITISH SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND LAND COMMISSION.
"INDEED, SEVERAL HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE CURRENTLY IN PEKING ATTENDING THE 12TH MEETING OF THE JLG," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WELCOMED SUCH VISITS AND EXCHANGES WHICH IT FELT WOULD 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 ΤΟ SPECIFIC NEEDS.
"ALTHOUGH IT IS THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE TO PLAN THE EXCHANGES WE EXPECT THAT, AS IN RECENT YEARS, THERE INCREASED NUMBER OF SUCH CONTACTS IN 1989," HE SAID.
FREQUENCY WILL BE
OF
AN
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