Hong Kong and European Commission sign re-admission agreement
The Hong Kong SAR Government and the European Community signed an
agreement on Wednesday (November 27, Brussels time) covering the readmission
of persons residing without authorisation.
The agreement was signed jointly by the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, the European Commissioner responsible for External Relations, Mr Chris Patten, and the European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Mr Antonio Vitorino. It flows from the EC decision in March 2001, to grant visa-free access to HKSAR passport holders.
"It will enable Hong Kong and the European Community to ensure, on a reciprocal basis, the rapid and effective identification and return of people illegally entering or remaining in their respective territories," a government spokesman said.
Negotiations were finalised at the end of last year, and the agreement was initialled by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, during his visit to Brussels a year ago.
The conclusion of readmission agreements is part of the European Union's broader strategy for combating illegal immigration.
Commissioner Vitorino said the signing of the agreement was an important milestone and would give a significant push to the EU's efforts to develop a common policy on illegal immigration.
"We are very grateful to our partners and friends from Hong Kong for their high degree of confidence and we appreciate their willingness to be the first to conclude a readmission agreement with the European Community," he said.
Mr Leung said the conclusion of the agreement reflected the EU's confidence in the efficiency and integrity of Hong Kong's immigration control under the 'One Country, Two Systems' arrangement.
"The agreement testifies to the determination of the two sides in tackling illegal migration and opens the door to greater co-operation between the European Community and Hong Kong in this vital area," he said.
After the ceremony, Commissioner Patten and Mr Leung also exchanged views on the overall political and economic situation and perspectives in Hong Kong, including the government's fiscal and budgetary policies and the closer economic ties with mainland China.
Earlier in the day, the Financial Secretary delivered the keynote speech at a high-powered business luncheon hosted by the Belgium-Hong Kong Society. A guest at the lunch was the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, Mr Francois-Xavier de Donnea.
Mr Leung told guests that to ensure its future prosperity, Hong Kong had to capitalise even more on the strengths of the Pearl River Delta as a great manufacturing centre and Hong Kong as Asia's international financial and business centre and one of the world's most successful service economies.
Hong Kong, he said, would also keep its competitive edge by winning the battle for talent, both by improving its education system and by attracting more talented people from the Mainland. In addition, Hong Kong was determined to continue to improve its infrastructure and to clean up the environment.
Mr Leung said that talent and entrepreneurs came to Hong Kong for two things: the opportunities it offers, and the lifestyle.
"All of these are embodied in a way in our vision for Hong Kong as Asia's world city. This signifies that we want to build a society that is civilised, affluent, free, treasures diversity and rewards merit," he said.
End/Thursday, November 28, 2002
