XN000022-1975-10-25 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1975

H.K. TO ATTEND COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE

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MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG TOMORROW (SUNDAY) TO ATTEND THE 21ST COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN NEW DELHI INDIA, FROM OCTOBER 27 TO NOVEMBER 4.

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MR. K.H. WHEELER, CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHO WILL BE ONE OF THE TWO SECRETARIES TO THE AUXILIARY BRANCH DELEGATIONS AND WILL ALSO SERVE ON THE. CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT.

OVER 200 MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION, OF WHICH HONG KONG IS AN AUXILIARY MEMBER, WILL BE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE ON THE INVITATION OF THE 20 INDIAN BRANCHES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

THE ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1911, WITH THE AIMS TO FOSTER BETTER UNDERSTANDING AMONG COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARIANS AND TO PROMOTE PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS.

SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, IT HAS HELD REGULAR PLENARY CONFERENCES, BIENNIALLY AT FIRST AND ANNUALLY SINCE 1961. EVERY YEAR THE CONFERENCE MOVES TO A DIFFERENT VENUE. THE LAST TIME SUCH A CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN INDIA WAS IN 1957.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA, MR. FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED, WILL FORMALLY DECLARE THE CONFERENCE OPEN IN THE CENTRAL HALL OF PARLIAMENT IN NEW DELHI ON OCTOBER 28. BUSINESS SESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE ARE TO BE HELD IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE ANNEX. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BE DR. THE HON. G.S. DHILLON, SPEAKER OF THE LOK SABHA AND PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION.

SOME OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN PLENARY SESSIONS AND COMMITTEE'S MEETINGS INCLUDE: THE COMMONWEALTH AND WORLD SECURITY= THE WORLD ENERGY CRISES BUILDING A NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES TO PARLIAMENT.

AFTER THE BUSINESS SESSIONS, DELEGATES WILL BE TAKEN IN GROUPS ON TOURS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE AND OF THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRY.

CONFERENCES OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE ARRANGED IN PURSUANCE OF THE ASSOCIATION'S AIMS TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET FELLOW PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST. THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION IS THE ONLY ORGANISATION THAT PROVIDES FOR SUCH REGULAR MEETINGS, CONSULTATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARIANS.

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