XN000022-1994-04-20 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1994

PROCESSING OF VISA APPLICATIONS FROM CHINESE VISITORS

THE

SECRETARY FOR

* * *

SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR

ASPREY,

TODAY

(WEDNESDAY)

VISITING

EXPLAINED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE POLICY TOWARDS PROCESSING OF VISA APPLICATIONS FROM MAINLAND RESIDENTS HONG KONG,

THE

TO REPLYING

BY THE QUESTION

HON MARTIN

BARROW

IN

THE

OR OF FOREIGN

A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID ONLY VISITORS HOLDING OFFICIAL SEMI-OFFICIAL PASSPORTS

MINISTRY ISSUED BY THE CHINESE AFFAIRS HAD TO APPLY FOR VISAS.

THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE NORMALLY SUBMITTED THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BEIJING, ARE THEN REFERRED TO HONG KONG.

HOWEVER,

THEIR

APPLICATIONS

CHINESE WHICH

AND

VISITORS FROM GUANGDONG, GUANGXI, FUJIAN, HAINAN то SUBMIT SHANGHAI HAVE

TO THE IMMIGRATION EMBASSY IN DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG, INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE BRITISH BEIJING.

MR

ASPREY

ADDED THAT ORDINARY RESIDENTS OF CHINA VISIT HONG KONG DID NOT REQUIRE A VISA.

WISHING TO

VISITORS ONLY HAVE TO APPLY TO THE THESE FOR TWO-PAY PERMITS.

CHINESE

AUTHORITIES

IMPROVED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY

MEETING THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IS A PRIORITY UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OBJECTIVE TO SAFEGUARD AND PROMOTE GENERAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

IN THIS RESPECT, THE WORKING GROUP ON CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, IS TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE OVERALL PROVISION OF SERVICES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THE ELDERLY.

MRS

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, ELIZABETH WONG, IN HER WRITTEN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION BY THE HON FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEB IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ELDERLY CHRONIC

ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, MRS WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE PRIORITY CONSULTATION SCHEME FOR PATIENTS, THE ADVANCED APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS, AND THE SPECIAL CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS ELDERLY HOMES TO GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS IN THE PIPELINE.

OF

SEVEN NEW ELDERLY HEALTH CENTRES WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY 1997 TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTIVE AND PROMOTIVE CARE, SHE ADDED.

/AS FOR