XN000022-1977-11-09 — Page 27

26

-

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1977

HK GOVERNMENT'S BRANCH OFFICE IN EDINBURGH OPENED

****

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON OPENED A NEW BRANCH OFFICE IN EDINBURGH YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) TO EXPAND ITS WORK AMONG THE ESTIMATED 7,000-STRONG HONG KONG CHINESE COMMUNITY IN SCOTLAND AND NORTH-EAST ENGLAND.

THE BRANCH OFFICE, SHARING PREMISES WITH THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK IN HANOVER STREET, WILL BE IN THE CHARGE OF MR. DAVID MAN TIN IP. HE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE AND ASSIST HONG KONG PEOPLE NOW LIVING AND WORKING IN THE REGION WHO HAVE PROBLEMS, EITHER IN THE U.K. OR HONG KONG.

MR. IP AND HIS STAFF WILL ALSO BE READY TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH CHINESE RESIDENTS.

THE NEW BRANCH OFFICE WAS FORMALLY OPENED BY THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN THE U.K., MR. DENIS BRAY. GUESTS INCLUDED THE LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH, THE RT. HON. KENNETH BORTHWICK.

MR. BRAY SAID: +WE HAVE REALISED FOR SOME TIME THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN SCOTLAND AND THE NORTH-EAST OF ENGLAND. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS BRANCH SHOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THAT SITUATION.

+ IT WILL SERVE AS A BASE FOR THE THREE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE LIAISON SECTION OF MY OFFICE WHO WORK IN SCOTLAND AND THE NORTH- EAST OF ENGLAND. THEY ARE HERE TO ADVISE AND ASS IST HONG KONG PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE IN THIS GENERAL AREA AND WHO MAY HAVE PROBLEMS EITHER HERE OR IN HONG KONG WITH WHICH MY CHINESE-SPEAK ING STAFF CAN ASSIST. THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO HELP LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH HONG KONG RESIDENTS.

+BESIDES THE LIAISON STAFF, THIS BRANCH WILL BE USED BY OUR COMMERCIAL STAFF, STUDENT ADVISERS, VISITING STUDENTS, APPOINTMENTS OFFICERS RECRUITING FOR WORK IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND TRAINING OFFICERS CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE SERVICE FOR THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY AND CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE MANY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN WHOSE AREAS THEY LIVE.+

0

/27