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Cross border co-operation to continue
Hong Kong and Guangdong are committed to maintaining an effective mechanism for liaison on cross-border issues, the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Nicholas Ng, said today (Monday).
Mr Ng is currently in Guangzhou heading a high-level Government delegation to attend the 17th Annual Border Liaison Review Meeting. Leading the Guangdong side at the regular liaison meeting was the Deputy Secretary General and Director of Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial Government, Mr Chao Zhenwei. The meeting was concluded early this afternoon.
Describing the meeting as "very useful and productive", Mr Ng said both sides endorsed the functions of the Border Liaison System and recognised the need to maintain an effective system for liaison and co-operation on such issues as smuggling, illegal immigration and cross border traffic.
"The System, established in 1981, has provided a good basis and foundation for further co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong and its continued development is vital to the economic prosperity and social stability of both sides," Mr Ng said.
"The meeting this morning has reviewed police, customs and immigration co- operation as well as cross-border traffic management over the past year. We have also discussed ways to further such co-operation," Mr Ng said.
On the Police and customs fronts, Mr Ng was encouraged by the 22 per cent decline in cross-border smuggling activities last year compared with figures in 1995. Theft of cars and container tractors also dropped by 43 per cent and 56 per cent respectively.
The crime rate for Hong Kong, the lowest for the past 15 years, was partly attributable to the effective co-operation established over the years between law enforcement officers on both sides of the border, he said.
On immigration, Mr Ng said that the two sides had reaffirmed their commitment in the fight against illegal immigration activities and had agreed to step up border patrols to curb smuggling of illegal immigrants.