XN000022-1987-01-23 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1987

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HO TO HOLD TRADE TALKS IN JAPAN, U.S.

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR ERIC HO, WILL LEAVE FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT TO TOKYO ON SUNDAY, AND AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WILL LEAVE FOR A ONE-WEEK VISIT TO WASHINGTON,

DURING HIS VISIT TO TOKYO, MR HO WILL DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS.

IN WASHINGTON, HE WILL MEET SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE TALKS WILL BE TO EMPHASISE HONG KONG'S POSITION AS AN OPEN MARKET TRADER, WITH EXCELLENT TRADE PRACTICES, FREEDOM OF ACCESS IN GOODS AND SERVICES, AND STRONG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT.

MR HO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR MICHAEL SZE, ON HIS VISIT TO TOKYO AND BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, ON HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON.

A VISIT TO SEOUL IS PLANNED FOR LATER IN FEBRUARY.

STREAMLINING OF EXAMINATION AUTHORITY PROCEDURES PROPOSED

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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES CONTAINED IN THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WERE THE RESULTS OF A REVIEW OF THE EXISTING PROVISIONS IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE SINCE THE AUTHORITY'S INCEPTION IN 1977.

+THE BILL PROPOSES TO STREAMLINE THE OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE AUTHORITY AND MAKE CHANGES TO ITS MEMBERSHIP IN PARTICULAR TO PROVIDE FOR REPRESENTATION OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND FOR A MORE ADEQUATE AND BALANCED REPRESENTATION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

+THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN TO DELETE CERTAIN TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE WHICH ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED, HE SAID.

THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY WAS ESTABLISHED A DECADE AGO WITH POWERS TO CONDUCT LOCAL PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS AND EXAMINATIONS ON BEHALF OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS BODIES.

THE BILL