LC15: Disposal of valuable gifts received by the Government
*********************************************************** Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 26):
Question:
Regarding the disposal of valuable gifts received by the Government, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of valuable gifts presented by Mainland provincial and municipal governments as well as foreign governments to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government since the reunification with China and, among these gifts, the number of those given to congratulate Hong Kong on the reunification;
(b) of the existing site(s) for keeping these gifts; and
(c) whether it will follow the Macao Special Administrative Region Government's practice of setting up an exhibition gallery dedicated to displaying the reunification gifts for viewing by the public; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had received 34 reunification and first anniversary gifts from the Central Peopleˇ¦s Government, different provinces, cities and autonomous regions of the Mainland. Please see the attached list for details of the gifts. These gifts are currently displayed at various venues including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong International Airport and VIP Lounge, several Government Offices and Departments Headquarters Buildings, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Central Library and Hong Kong Cultural Centre etc., to facilitate public viewing.
The current display venues at Government and public locations are not intended solely for facilitating viewing by the citizens of Hong Kong. Some of them also carry protocol meanings thus enabling tourists and overseas guests to view and appreciate the gifts. The Government does not have plan to build an exhibition gallery dedicated to displaying the reunification gifts.
*********************************************************** Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, in the Legislative Council today (October 26):
Question:
Regarding the disposal of valuable gifts received by the Government, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of valuable gifts presented by Mainland provincial and municipal governments as well as foreign governments to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government since the reunification with China and, among these gifts, the number of those given to congratulate Hong Kong on the reunification;
(b) of the existing site(s) for keeping these gifts; and
(c) whether it will follow the Macao Special Administrative Region Government's practice of setting up an exhibition gallery dedicated to displaying the reunification gifts for viewing by the public; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had received 34 reunification and first anniversary gifts from the Central Peopleˇ¦s Government, different provinces, cities and autonomous regions of the Mainland. Please see the attached list for details of the gifts. These gifts are currently displayed at various venues including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong International Airport and VIP Lounge, several Government Offices and Departments Headquarters Buildings, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Central Library and Hong Kong Cultural Centre etc., to facilitate public viewing.
The current display venues at Government and public locations are not intended solely for facilitating viewing by the citizens of Hong Kong. Some of them also carry protocol meanings thus enabling tourists and overseas guests to view and appreciate the gifts. The Government does not have plan to build an exhibition gallery dedicated to displaying the reunification gifts.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:00
NNNN