ENG-2011 — Page 53

Constitution and Administration | 17

regulations on practical arrangements for the Chief Executive election, the Legislative Council election, the District Council election and rural elections, and handling complaints relating to these elections. The Registration and Electoral Office, a government department headed by the Chief Electoral Officer, works under the commission's direction and carries out its decisions.

HKSAR's External Affairs

The HKSAR continues to play an active role in the international arena and maintains close contact with its international partners.

In 2011, representatives of the HKSAR Government, as members of the PRC delegation, took part in over 130 international conferences limited to states, including those organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The HKSAR also took part in over 1 650 inter-governmental conferences not limited to states in the capacity of 'Hong Kong, China', including those organised by the World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the World Customs Organisation.

In accordance with Article 151 of the Basic Law, the HKSAR concluded nine agreements with foreign states in 2011 on matters in relation to the avoidance of double taxation, free trade, labour co-operation, and agriculture. Pursuant to the decision of the Central People's Government (CPG), after seeking the views of the HKSAR Government, two multilateral conventions became applicable to the HKSAR in 2011. They are the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2000.

Active participation in international activities and close liaison with international partners have enabled the HKSAR to maintain its status as an international financial, trade, civil aviation and shipping centre.

There is a large foreign representation in the HKSAR, including 59 consulates- general, 62 consulates and five officially recognised international bodies.

Working Relationship of the HKSAR Government with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Office)

The HKSAR Government continues to work closely with the MFA Office in Hong Kong, which was established by the CPG, in the following areas:

(a) participation in international organisations and conferences, such

obtaining the CPG's approval for HKSAR Government officials to participate as members of the PRC delegation in international conferences limited to states;

(b) negotiation and conclusion of international agreements, such as obtaining the CPG's specific authorisation for the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with foreign states in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law;