OTHER MEASURES:
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CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN MISSIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LEGISLATION: We continue to hope that the draft legislation will be approved by P&P and tabled in Parliament before the start of the substantive program of the Prime Minister's visit to Hong Kong. Hong Kong hopes to open its Toronto Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), its first free-standing office with privileges and immunities, in the early summer. Canadian Ministers, including the Prime Minister, have provided assurances for over two years that the legislation will be handled expeditiously.
DEMOCRATIZATION: EAITC provided assistance for the visits to Canada by Martin Lee, Adrian Lang, and Frank Stock, the Solicitor General of the territory, and to Hong Kong by John Parker, former Commissioner of the NWT (expert on self-government) and Jean-Marc Hamel, former Chief Electoral Officer (to visit at the end of this month). There is also potential for exchanges (legislators and officials). We are also supporting work related to a Hong Kong Bill of Rights (loan of Justice Strayer, finacial assistance for a conference in Hong Kong, discussions with Hong Kong's Solicitor General on the Canadian experience, etc.). LEGCO has invited four Parliamentarians to Hong Kong to participate in Festival Canada. The opportunity could be used to discuss the creation of a Canada-Hong Kong Parliamentary Friendship Association, possibly within the context of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Canada is expected to invite four legislators from Hong Kong in 1992.
FESTIVAL CANADA: Plans are proceeding well for the $4 million extravaganza (mostly leveraged funds).
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.