XN000022-1993-02-19 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1993

THE SPOKESMAN SAID AS AGREED UNDER THE

WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION,

MEMORANDUM ASSOCIATED

BDTCS BY VIRTUE OF A CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG, SUCH AS BY BIRTH, NATURALISATION OR REGISTRATION IN HONG KONG WOULD CEASE TO BE SUCH CITIZENS ON JULY 1, 1997.

THEREFORE BDTC PASSPORTS ARE VALID ONLY UP TO JUNE 30, 1997.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS WHICH ARE VALID FOR 10 YEARS AND CAN BE RENEWED AFTER 1997.

SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1987, OVER HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

435,000

BN (0) PASSPORTS

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 3.3 MILLION HONG KONG BDTCS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR BN (0) PASSPORTS BEFORE JULY 1997. THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES IF PEOPLE LEAVE IT TOO LATE.

IN ORDER ΤΟ AVOID A LAST MINUTE RUSH IN 1996/97, THE DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY BE STEPPING UP ITS EFFORTS, THROUGH MEDIA PUBLICITY, TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED ΤΟ APPLY FOR A BN (0) PASSPORT IN GOOD TIME.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ACQUISITION OF THE BN (0) STATUS WOULD BE ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY.

"ONLY THOSE WHO WISH ΤΟ CONTINUE THE FACILITY OF BRITISH PASSPORT BEYOND 1997 NEED TO TAKE UP A BN(0) PASSPORT.

"OTHERS WHO ALREADY HAVE A BN(0) PASSPORT NEED NOT OF COURSE APPLY AGAIN," HE SAID.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH

* * * *

AN URBAN COUNCILLOR TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO BETTER PROMOTE FOOD HYGIENE FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

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SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A FOOD HYGIENE EXHIBITION ENTITLED "KNOW MORE ABOUT FOOD SAFETY" THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG, SAID FOOD SAFETY WAS THE COMMON GOAL OF BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC AND IT COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH AUTHORITIES ALONE.

"THE URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAVE ALL ALONG COMMITTED TO THE PROMOTION OF FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE.

AS FA