3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994
LARGE
OF
TRAVEL SOME
OF
NUMBER OF VISA-
THIRD, VISA-FREE TRAVEL. SOME MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AT WHEN THE INCONVENIENCE OF CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY HOLDERS EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO TRAVEL. WE HAVE WORKED AND IMPROVED THE ACCEPTABILITY THE CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT MANY COUNTRIES WOULD REQUIRE VISAS FOR HOLDERS OF DOCUMENTS
A NOT CONFERRING
NATIONAL STATUS. NEVERTHELESS, COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED VISA-FREE ACCESS FOR HOLDERS OF CERTIFICATES
HONG IDENTITY WHICH AS I HAVE MENTIONED CONFIRM THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN
HOLDERS OF BNO KONG. FOR THE FUTURE, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PASSPORTS AND OTHER HONG KONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE HONG KONG SAR PASSPORTS WOULD ENJOY VISA-FREE TRAVEL TO A COUNTRIES AFTER 1997. IT IS OUR AIM TO MAINTAIN AND EXTEND THE FREE TRAVEL NOW ENJOYED BY BNO PASSPORT HOLDERS AND TO MAKE SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOLDERS OF OTHER HONG KONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS PROPOSALS INCLUDING FUTURE SAR PASSPORT HOLDERS. WE HAVE PUT FORWARD TO THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JLG ON HOW THIS MIGHT BE DONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSIONS ON THIS SUBJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT BELIEVE A SUBJECT WHERE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND GOVERNMENTS IS ESSENTIAL IF THERE IS TO BE ANY SUBSTANTIAL ACHIEVEMENT. BOTH BRITISH AND SAR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ARE INVOLVED. IN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS ON POSSIBLE VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS, THE QUESTION OF RECIPROCITY AND RETURNABILITY WILL BE IMPORTANT FACTORS. THESE AFTER 1997 ARE MATTERS FOR THE FUTURE SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT.
IS I BRITISH
AND
FREEDOM
IN
THE
IT.
PUT
MR PRESIDENT, THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THE MOTION. OF TRAVEL
SUCCESS IS ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUING AND WE MUST MAKE CONCRETE ARRANGEMENTS TO GIVE EFFECT TO FUTURE. WE HAVE LONG RECOGNISED ITS IMPORTANCE AND AS I HAVE EXPLAINED FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSALS TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A REALITY IN THE FUTURE. AGREEMENT ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE BUT I AM ENCOURAGED THAT THERE IS TO BE EARLY DISCUSSIONS ON THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES. I HOPE TO SEE PROGRESS ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
0
SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE IN MOTION DEBATE ON COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE IN LEGCO
MR PRESIDENT,
* *
*
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUNDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
DEBUNK
A FEW
MYTHS
FIRST, THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF SOCIAL SECURITY IN HONG KONG IS MEMBERS OF OUR то PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC AND SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL OR MATERIAL ASSISTANCE. IS ENSHRINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990S BEYOND, WHICH WAS WELL-GROUNDED ON EXTENSIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION SUPPORT.
THIS
AND
AND
/COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL
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