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In welcoming CBPMC's participation in HKNPL, the Chief Executive of HKMA and Chairman of the HKNPL Board of Directors, Mr Joseph Yam said, "As a small and stand-alone banknote printing operation, HKNPL must be able to tap the best technical know-how in this highly specialised field. While the printing of HK$ banknotes will continue to be its core, and profitable, business, HKNPL needs to explore other security printing business opportunities both within and outside Hong Kong. I am sure that CBPMC's participation as a business partner will strengthen HKNPL's ability to explore such opportunities in the years ahead."

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Truly bilingual court system to be in place

The Hong Kong Government is committed to putting in place before July 1 this year on a phased basis a truly bilingual court system which allows the use of Chinese, along with English, in courts of all levels, the Deputy Solicitor General, Mr Stephen Wong, told the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva on Tuesday (Geneva time).

Mr Wong, leader of the Hong Kong Government team forming part of the British delegation, was responding to a question on the use of Chinese in Hong Kong courts raised by Professor Rudiger Wolfum, a member of the committee which examines the 14th periodic report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

He said the Government had made considerable progress towards that goal and is confident of achieving it in good time.

"While English will continue to be used in our courts, as appropriate, there is a growing need for more Chinese to be used in legal proceedings.

"The Attorney General's Chambers of Hong Kong will address this need by completing the authentication of Chinese texts, promoting wider use of bilingual prosecution documents, and training government lawyers on advocacy in Chinese," he said.

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