XN000022-1984-07-25 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1984

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* INVESTIGATE THE PRACTICALITIES OF GUARANTEEING ALL

FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT THE HONG KONG BELONGER TRAVELLER WILL NOT BE A LIABILITY ON THE TAXPAYER OF THAT COUNTRY. IF PRACTICABLE, THIS WOULD REDUCE THE CONCERN OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND IMMEDIATELY AND GREATLY ENHANCE THE STATUS OF THE HONG KONG BELONGER.

* CONVINCE FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF THE TRUTH THAT ALL WE WANT FROM THEM IS AN OPTION AND THAT WE MUCH PREFER HONG KONG, IF IT SUCCEEDS IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY EASE ANY DISCRIMINATORY RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE HONG KONG TRAVELLER SUCH AS THE HONG KONG STUDENT AND WIPE OFF OUR REFUGEE IMAGE.

* PROVIDE, IN AN ACCESSIBLE OFFICE, COMPREHENSIVE AND

UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON IMMIGRATION MATTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. IF THIS IS DONE EFFICIENTLY, RELIABLY AND AT LOW COST, IT WOULD EASE THE MINDS OF EVERYONE SEARCHING FOR THAT ELUSIVE FIRE EXIT OR SAFETY NET.

THE EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTION SHOULD BE FUNDED PURELY BY MEANS OF A CHARITABLE TRUST ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT THE INSTITUTION KEEPS TO ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE, HE SAID.

THE TRUST SHOULD BE FUNDED PARTIALLY BY VERY MODEST FEES COLLECTED BY THE INSTITUTION AND PARTIALLY BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

HE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL MAGIC THAT IS HONG KONG, THE TERRITORY RANKS 17TH IN THE WORLD LEAGUE OF EXPORTERS AND IS THE WORLD'S THIRD INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE.

+ AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT MAGIC IS THE EASE WITH WHICH OUR BUSINESSMEN AS WELL AS CIVIL SERVANTS ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO CLINCH A DEAL, RESOLVE A MISUNDERSTANDING AND DEFUSE A PROBLEM, HE SAID.

+MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SOME IN THIS COUNCIL, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARRIVE IN LONDON OR GENEVA, NEW YORK, OTTAWA OR WASHINGTON WITHIN 24 HOURS OF AN OPPORTUNITY OR PROBLEM ARISING, TO SECURE OR SAFEGUARD A VITAL HONG KONG INTEREST, HE ADDED.

HE STRESSED THAT THIS HAD ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEIR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WERE ACCEPTABLE IMMEDIATELY WHEREVER THEY MIGHT HAVE TO GO.

+WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THAT SITUATION,✦ HE SAID.

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