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The Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, arrived in Canberra on June 18 (Canberra time) to begin the second leg of his duty visit to New Zealand and Australia.
On June 18 (Canberra time), Mr Lai called on the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Mr Scott Morrison, and the Chief Operating Officer, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Mr Michael Pezzullo.
Mr Lai then met with the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), Mr Martin Bowles. During the meeting, Mr Lai was given an overview of the consolidation of the DIBP and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. They also exchanged views on matters of mutual concern including refugee status determination procedures, a skilled migration programme and Australia's automated border processing system.
Mr Lai paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Head of Mission and Minister/Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, Mr Xue Bing, on the same day.
Today (June 19, Canberra time), Mr Lai met with the Minister for Justice, Mr Michael Keenan, and the Minister for Industry, Mr Ian Macfarlane, to update them on the law and order situation in Hong Kong. He also spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Sydney for the Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Mr Lai will proceed to Melbourne tomorrow where he will visit the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service's Detector Dog Programme facility to learn more about their currency detector dogs. He will also call on the Director of Drugs, Primary Care and Community Programmes, Victorian Department of Health, Ms Judith Abbott, to learn more about drug treatment services in Victoria.
Mr Lai will return to Hong Kong on June 21.
Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:13
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