XN000022-1997-04-16 — Page 83

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Visit programmes arranged by the Government

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Stella Hung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Reply:

Will the Government inform this Council -

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

of the number of overseas visitors who came to visit the territory in each of the past three years by arrangement of and under the sponsorship of the Hong Kong Government, together with a breakdown of these visitors by nationality;

of the policy objective and effectiveness of the above sponsored visits; and

whether the current policy objective of inviting politicians or other people from mainland China and Taiwan to visit the territory is the same as the policy objective mentioned in the answer to (b) above; if not, why not?

The total number of overseas visitors to HK whose programmes were arranged and sponsored by the Hong Kong Government (mainly by the Government Information Services Department) over the past three years is as follows-

Type of visit

1994/95

1995/96

1996/97

1. Fully-sponsored'

83

96

138

2. Partially-sponsored2

31

53

47

3. Programme-only3

594

581

782