XN000022-1987-03-02 — Page 5

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1987

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+THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS STARTED WORK UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF BERTIE DE SPEVILLE, WHO IS INCIDENTALLY THE SECRETARY OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, AND IT HAS NOW MET FOUR TIMES. I HOPED THAT IT WILL BE IN A POSITION TO REPORT TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND MYSELF WITHIN 12 MONTHS,+ MR THOMAS SAID.

THE AIM OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO DEVISE A SYSTEM THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG HONG KONG AS A RESERVOIR OF INVENTIVE TALENT, HONG KONG AS A MANUFACTURING AND EXPORTING CENTRE EAGER TO PROMOTE MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT FROM OVERSEAS AND HONG KONG AS A RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPANT IN INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO PATENTS.

+IN THIS ENDEAVOUR THE GOVERNMENT OF COURSE HAS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN DETERMINING THE POLICY, FRAMING THE DRAFT LEGISLATION AND STEERING IT TO ENACTMENT. BUT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT, ALTHOUGH IT IS KEENLY INTERESTED IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND ITS EXPLOITATION, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY GREAT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN THE SUBJECT.

+IT IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT FOR EXPERT ADVICE ON THE PATENT AGENTS AND SPECIALIST LAWYERS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TO SO MANY OF WHOM, MAY I SAY, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY INDEBTED FOR THEIR VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS, MR THOMAS SAID.

+WE SHALL NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE THOUGHTS OF ALL OF YOU WHO WORK IN THIS SPECIALIST FIELD AND TO CONSULT YOU FULLY BEFORE WE LEGISLATE, HE ADDED.

POLICY ON ENTRY OF HUSBANDS RELAXED ****

THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO A RELAXATION OF POLICY REGARDING ENTRY OF HUSBANDS TO JOIN THEIR WIVES WHO ARE RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG. IN SO DOING, THE POLICY ON THE ADMISSION OF HUSBANDS NOW FALLS GENERALLY IN LINE WITH THE ADMISSION OF WIVES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT CONSISTENT WITH OTHER IMMIGRATION POLICIES, THIS RELAXATION WOULD NOT APPLY TO HUSBANDS FROM THOSE TERRITORIES FROM WHICH THE ADMISSION OF WIVES TO HONG KONG IS RESTRICTED, THAT IS TO SAY, VIETNAM, LAOS, CAMBODIA AND CHINA.

SIMILARLY, THE RELAXATION WOULD NOT APPLY TO THOSE HUS BANDS WHO ARE EX-CHINA RESIDENTS AND WHO HAVE SETTLED IN MACAU AFTER JANUARY 14, 1979.

AS FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY), HUSBANDS OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS MAY APPLY FOR ADMISSION UNDER THIS RELAXED POLICY.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ON 3-7333111 DURING OFFICE HOURS.

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