XN000022-1993-08-11 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1993

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"I AM HAPPY TO MEET ANY OTHER STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WHO WISH ΤΟ DISCUSS THEIR SPECIFIC CONCERN, SHE SAID. "WE WELCOME SUGGESTIONS FROM STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND INDEED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON HOW BETTER TO IMPLEMENT QUR LOCALISATION POLICY OR ON ALLAYING SPECIFIC STAFF CONCERNS.'

MRS CHAN STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED VIGOROUS AND CONSISTENT IN IMPLEMENTING ITS LOCALISATION POLICY AND WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ GIVE PREFERENCE TO LOCAL OFFICERS ON RECRUITMENT AND TO REPLACE OVERSEAS AGREEMENT OFFICERS WITH SUITABLE LOCAL OFFICERS WHEN AVAILABLE.

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PA MEETS CONSULS TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER VISA REQUIREMENT

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THE ACTING POLITICAL ADVISER MR JOHN ASHTON, ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICIALS FROM SECURITY BRANCH AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, -TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MET THE CONSULS-GENERAL OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINE SIGNATORY COUNTRIES OF THE SCHENGEN CONVENTION - BELGIUM, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, ITALY, LUXEMBOURG, NETHERLANDS, PORTUGAL AND SPAIN.

MR ASHTON DREW TO THEIR ATTENTION THE CONCERN WHICH HAD BEEN AROUSED IN THE COMMUNITY BY RECENT REPORTS ᎢᎻᎪᎢ . UNDER THE COMMON VISA POLICY TO BE ADOPTED BY THE SCHENGEN COUNTRIES, THERE WOULD BE NEW VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS AND BRITISH NATIONALS (OVERSEAS ) VISITING THE MAJORITY OF SCHENGEN COUNTRIES, BELGIUM, GREECE, ITALY, LUXEMBOURG, NETHERLANDS AND SPAIN.

HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHARED THIS CONCERN, AND WISHED TO REINFORCE THE REPRESENTATIONS ALREADY BRING MADE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO PERSUADE SCHENGEN COUNTRIES NOT TO IMPOSE NEW VISA RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS FROM HONG KONG,

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CONSULS-GENERAL UNDERTOOK ΤΟ REPORT

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIONS TO THEIR OWN AUTHORITIES, AND TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CLOSELY INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS ON ISSUE.

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