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At the invitation of the Central People's Government, the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, will lead an SAR delegation to Beijing to attend celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a Government spokesman announced today (Thursday).

"The delegation, comprising about 200 people, will include the Chief Justice, the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, some principal officials and department heads, Members of the Executive Council, as well as the President of the Legislative Council and the Chairmen of its Standing Committees (i.e. Finance Committee, Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Rules of Procedure), House Committee and Committee on Members' Interests.

"The delegation will also include representatives from different sectors of the community," the spokesman said.

The delegation will attend National Day celebration activities held on September 30 and October 1.

The Chief Executive will leave for Beijing on September 30 and return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of October 1 to attend celebrations in the SAR. Other members of the delegation will make their own way to Beijing on or before September 30.

During the absence of Mr Tung, the Secretary for Justice will assume the duties of Chief Executive.

End/Thursday, September 23, 1999

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