Reply:
- 32 -
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
(c)
-
The Governor has made 19 overseas visits including 12 to the United Kingdom - since he assumed office in 1992. This was one fewer visit than Lord Wilson in his last two and a half years as Governor. The total cost of public funds of these visits was $4,660,328.
As currently planned, in remainder of 1995, the Governor has accepted an invitation to visit Singapore in March, the costs of which will be borne by his hosts. He will also visit London in October. The cost of that visit is estimated at about $180,000. The Governor has also received invitations to visit other countries, including Vietnam, in this and future years and he is considering these invitations.
The Governor has one criterion for deciding whether to accept invitations for overseas visits; and that is, will the visit help Hong Kong? Different visits have different purposes. Some aim to promote our trade relations with important trading partners. Other visits have a narrower focus, such as the Governor's visit to Washington in May 1993 to lobby President Clinton and senior US officials for MFN renewal. All his visits serve to focus attention on Hong Kong abroad and to increase understanding of our affairs amongst our international friends in the crucial run-up to 1997.
Visits to London have a particular purpose. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and other senior Ministers expect to be kept closely in touch with the events in Hong Kong, increasingly so as 1997 approaches. When the Cabinet Committee on Hong Kong meets, the Governor is invited to attend. The Governor also uses his visits in London to keep the opposition parties at Westminster briefed on Hong Kong affairs, and to promote Hong Kong amongst the business community in Britain.
Visits made by the Governor are assessed against the specific purpose they were aimed to achieve, whether it be MFN renewal, promotion of our trade relations or promotion of greater understanding of our affairs. But the obvious yardsticks include the calls made by the Governor, the effectiveness with which the target audience was reached and specific Hong Kong concerns conveyed.
End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995