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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for the Constitutional Affairs, Mr Clement Mak, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question

In connection with the change of name of the Hong Kong Branch of the Xinhua News Agency, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) whether they know if the functions of the renamed organisation have been changed;

(b) whether the renamed organisation will still be recognised as an organ of the Central People's Government or accorded the status as such;

(c) whether the organisation has sought the consent of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for it to change its name, in accordance with the spirit of Article 22 of the Basic Law, which has a stipulation that the consent of the HKSAR Government must be obtained for departments of the Central Government, or for provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government to set up offices in the HKSAR; if it has not, of the reasons for that; and

(d) of the measures the executive authorities will take to ensure that the renamed organisation will only engage in liaison work, so as to avoid giving the public the impression that it has a higher authority than the HKSAR Government or is in fact an alternative centre of power in Hong Kong?

Reply:

Madam President,

The reply to Member's question is as follows--

(a) The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (Liaison Office) is discharging basically the same responsibilities as the former New China News Agency (Hong Kong Branch).

(b) The Liaison Office will discharge responsibilities in Hong Kong as authorised by the Central People's Government (CPG). It is one of the three offices established by the CPG in the HKSAR.

(c) The Liaison Office, formerly known as "New China News Agency (Hong Kong Branch)" is already an existing organisation in Hong Kong and not one to be newly established. Nevertheless, the CPG did consult the HKSAR Government on the change of office title, and we did not hold a different view on the matter.

(d) The responsibilities to be discharged by the Liaison Office in Hong Kong as authorised by the CPG have been set out clearly. They do not impinge on the autonomy of the HKSAR. As an office established by the CPG in Hong Kong, the Liaison Office and its staff will strictly abide by the Basic Law and the laws of the HKSAR. The full and faithful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in the HKSAR is a well-established policy and strategic direction that will remain unchanged.

End/Wednesday, January 26, 2000

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