XN000022-1997-02-28 — Page 9

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Currently, the airlines of Japan and Hong Kong together carry some 4 million passengers each year, serving nine cities in Japan.

Growth of passengers in 1996 as compared with 1995 was just over 20 per cent. The large number of passengers carried reflects the close business and tourism ties that exist between Japan and Hong Kong.

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The Hong Kong Japan Agreement is the sixteenth air services agreement signed by Hong Kong. The others were signed with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Brunei, France, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Korea, Singapore, Italy and India.

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Community building activities to mark Handover

A variety of cultural, entertainment and community building activities to help present Hong Kong as a vibrant and caring community will be held from May to August to complement the Handover Ceremony and to facilitate and encourage greater public involvement.

Outlining the programmes at a press conference today (Friday), the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, said they ranged from district-based functions to major events of territory-wide interest.

"The Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Branch (BCSB) are tasked with organising these events in conjunction with other non-government organisations.

"In addition, the Urban and Regional Councils have also been invited to organise their own activities as their contribution to the official programme," Mr Suen said.

The community building activities co-ordinated by HAD will revolve around the various aspects of Hong Kong life. These include six theme-related projects in the areas of Housing, Education, Welfare, Health Care, Transport and Airport; carnivals in the urban areas and the New Territories; and an Asian Extravaganza.