ENG-2000 — Page 47

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Organisation and their subsidiary bodies. About 700 of these conferences were limited to governments. HKSARG representatives also participated as members of delegations of the PRC more than 60 times in international conferences limited to states, including those organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Intellectual Property Organisation, International Civil Aviation and Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Universal Postal Union International Labour Organisation. Active participation in international activities. has enabled the HKSAR to maintain its status as an international financial, trade, civil aviation and shipping centre, as well as a free port.

In 2000, the HKSAR played host to the First APEC Tourism Forum and the ITU Telecom Asia 2000 Exhibition and Forum.

A total of 104 foreign states maintained official or semi-official presence in the HKSAR, including 57 consulates general, 41 honorary consuls, and six semi-official (mostly trade) missions. In addition, six international organisations namely the Bank for International Settlements, the European Union, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Monetary Fund, the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank - have set up offices in the HKSAR.

Working Relations with the Mainland Authorities

Since reunification, the HKSAR has developed and maintained a cordial and constructive working relationship with the CPG and other Mainland authorities. Through a wide range of exchanges including visits, meetings, seminars and training programmes, many bureaux and departments of the HKSARG have enhanced mutual understanding with their Mainland counterparts. Some have also reached co- operative arrangements to underline the commitment of both sides to co-operate in areas such as postal service, marine conservation and the fight against intellectual property piracy.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council plays the role of a facilitator and provides assistance to the HKSARG in developing official contacts with Mainland authorities. Liaison with the HKMAO is maintained on matters such as arrangement of visits by senior HKSARG officials and issues. requiring the co-operation of the CPG such as the co-operation between the State Environmental Protection Administration and the Environmental Protection. Department in the management of cross-boundary shipment of hazardous wastes. Meetings are held between the Constitutional Affairs Bureau and the HKMAO to further enhance communication.

Article 22 of the Basic Law provides that no department of the CPG and no province, autonomous region, or municipality may interfere in the affairs that the HKSAR administers on its own in accordance with the Basic Law. The HKMAO continues to play the role of a 'gate-keeper' to ensure that Mainland authorities at all levels conduct business with the HKSAR in line with this principle.

As the closest Mainland province, Guangdong has probably the most extensive network of communication with the HKSAR. Since 1982, the Cross-boundary Liaison System has been providing an effective mechanism for Hong Kong and Guangdong to discuss and resolve practical issues and day-to-day operational matters of mutual concern including, for example, the fight against cross-boundary crime. The Hong Kong and Mainland Cross-boundary Major Infrastructure Co-

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