WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1994
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GOVT HELPS HK RESIDENTS IN DISTRESS OVERSEAS
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THE GOVERNMENT TAKES SERIOUSLY ALL REPORTS OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS IN DISTRESS OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY.
"WHERE THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A HONG KONG RESIDENT IS
WITH UNLAWFULLY DETAINED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, WE FOLLOW UP BEING
THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED,' THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK, MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED EIGHT APPLICATIONS FROM DETAINED AS A FAMILIES OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WERE REPORTEDLY RESULT OF COMMERCIAL DISPUTES IN CHINA IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THESE APPLICATIONS INVOLVED 10 DETAINEES, WHO ARE EITHER HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN OR EMPLOYEES OF HONG KONG COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA.
"THE GOVERNMENT HAS RAISED ALL THESE CASES WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES," MR ASPREY SAID.
FOR
"WE HAVE MADE REPEATED REQUESTS TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES CLARIFICATION OF
HAVE THE BASIS ON WHICH THE HONG KONG INDIVIDUALS BEEN DETAINED, FOR ASSURANCES THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH CHINESE AND LAW, AND FOR ACCESS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS' FAMILIES, LEGAL ADVISERS COLLEAGUES.
TT
ALL THESE APPROACHES HAVE BEEN MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WISHES OF THE FAMILIES, HE ADDED.
TWO OF THE CASES ARE OUTSTANDING, INVOLVING FOUR DETAINEES HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED AND RETURNED TO HONG KONG.
WHO
THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD WELL-ESTABLISHED CHANNELS FOR RAISING CASES OF THIS KIND WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
KONG
HE SAID: "OUR REPRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE."
IN
HONG
FOREIGN
AND
IN SOME CASES, THEY WERE ALSO MADE THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN LONDON (INCLUDING AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL) AND THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING, HE ADDED.
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ALL DOGS TO BE IMPLANTED WITH OWNERSHIP DATA
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL DOGS TO BE IMPLANTED WITH A SMALL MICROCHIP CONTAINING OWNERSHIP DATA LATER THIS YEAR.
"THIS WILL
STRENGTHEN CONSIDERABLY
THE
OF THE ABILITY AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE TO IDENTIFY OWNERS WHO ALLOW THEIR DOGS TO STRAY," THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
/REPLYING TO