ليا
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1992
HK OFFICIALS NEED TO FORGE CLOSER LINKS WITH CHINESE COUNTERPARTS
UP
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO BUILD A SOCIAL AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHINESE COUNTERPARTS WITH WHOM THEY MAY HAVE TO LIAISE CLOSELY AFTER 1997, THE
1997, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HONG
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE CITY LIONS CLUB OF KONG, MR SZE SAID OVER THE PAST 100-ODD YEARS HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT. THE UK GOVERNMENT ALLOWED HONG KONG A VERY HIGH MEASURE OF AUTONOMY.
THE REASON THE UK HAS BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UK AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAD BEEN BASED ON TRUST, COMBINED WITH AN APPRECIATION ON THE PART OF THE UK GOVERNMENT THAT HONG KONG WORKED BEST WHEN IT WAS LEFT TO TAKE ITS OWN DECISIONS.
**IF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) GOVERNMENT CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME SOUND WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THAT WILL BUTTRESS AND SUPPORT THE GUARANTEES SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW, AND HELP ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT, HE SAID.
HE SAID HE WAS SURE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ALSO LOOKED TO A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAR GOVERNMENT.
FORWARD
DEVELOP AND
HOWEVER, SUCH A RELATIONSHIP CANNOT BE EXPECTED то OVERNIGHT GIVEN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS IN HONG KONG IN CHINA.
SOME OF THE CONCEPTS AND VALUES WHICH UNDERLIE THE POLICIES PURSUED IN HONG KONG ARE ALIEN TO MANY MAINLAND OFFICIALS.
"WE THEREFORE NEED TO ENGAGE IN AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS SO THAT OFFICIALS FROM BOTH GOVERNMENTS CAN ACQUIRE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE OTHER SYSTEM WORKS."
STEPS THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THIS DIRECTION INCLUDED THE INTRODUCTION IN 1988 OF THE SPONSORED VISITS PROGRAMME, WHICH ENABLED DELEGATIONS OF SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO VISIT AND TO BE BRIEFED ON THE OTHER'S SYSTEM OF OPERATION.
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HONG KONG DELEGATIONS HAD BEEN LED BY OFFICIALS AT THE RANK SECRETARY, AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DELEGATIONS BY DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS.
SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 13 VISITS. THE PROGRAMME HAD BEEN A CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS, BOTH IN TERMS OF ITS EDUCATIONAL VALUE AND AS A MEANS OF ENABLING OFFICIALS FROM BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO GET KNOW EACH OTHER.
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/"AS A RESULT