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A bilateral agreement on the readmission of persons was initialled between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the European Community (EC) in Brussels today (November 22, Brussels time).
It is the first Readmission Agreement entered into by the EC.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, and Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Mr Antonio Vitorino, were present at the ceremony.
The agreement provides a basis for the readmission by one party of certain persons coming from the territory of the other contracting party.
Negotiations for the agreement took place in Hong Kong in October following an EC decision in March that granted visa-free access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders from April 10 this year.
At the initialling ceremony, the two sides were represented by Mr Christopher Jackson, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, and Mr Adrian Fortescue, Director-General of the Justice and Home Affairs Directorate General of the European Commission.
Mr Tsang said that the swift and rapid progress to reach an agreement highlighted the constructive and close co-operation between the HKSAR and the EC in combating illegal migration.
"The initialling of the agreement is a clear reflection of international confidence in the efficiency and integrity of Hong Kong's immigration controls under 'One Country, Two Systems' and the capability of our Immigration Department to combat illegal migration," Mr Tsang said.
The EC's Commissioner Vitorino said: "This first European Community Readmission Agreement is an important milestone for the EC.
The fact that it has been negotiated so quickly, with such a good partner and friend as Hong Kong, illustrates the strength and depth of EC-Hong Kong relations.
Hong Kong's willingness to be the first to complete a Readmission Agreement with the EC is a positive sign of Hong Kong's free and open society."
Mr Tsang said that during his meetings with European, French and Belgian political leaders over the past two days it had also been pointed out that Hong Kong citizens had a good record of compliance with visa conditions and a very low level of overstaying in countries they visited.
Mr Tsang also pointed out that emigration from Hong Kong was at a 20-year low and that more and more emigrants were returning to Hong Kong to live and work.
He said European political leaders had said such a situation showed Hong kong people had confidence in their future and in the arrangements put in place for Hong Kong people to administer their own affairs under 'One Country, Two Systems'.
Following the initialling of the agreement, Mr Tsang, was guest of honour at a lunch hosted by the European Commission Vice President, Mr Neil Kinnock.
Earlier in the day, Mr Tsang held talks with the European Parliament's Vice-President, Mr James Provan and the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment and Equal Opportunity, Mrs Laurette Onkelinx.
The Chief Secretary for Administration also delivered a keynote address at a breakfast meeting of the Executive Club Belgium, attended by more than 220 people, and addressed the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy.
During his meetings, and in his speeches, Mr Tsang highlighted the successful implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' and gave an update on the latest developments in Hong Kong, including opportunities likely to flow from China's accession to the World Trade Organisation.
End/Thursday, November 22, 2001
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