The Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan opened today (January 16). Around 100 guests attended the opening ceremony and witnessed the official opening of the Immigration Division, including the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) in Hubei, Mr Qin Yu; the Inspector of the HKMAO in Jiangxi, Mr Wu Jianmin; representatives from the HKMAOs in the central region and the foreign institutions in Wuhan; and Hong Kong residents in the region.
 
     The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan (WHETO), Mr Vincent Fung, said that Hong Kong has been maintaining close economic and trade relations with the central region. Since the establishment of the WHETO in April 2014, it has been playing an active role in fostering closer ties and deeper co-operation between the central region and Hong Kong in various fields including trade, economic, education and cultural affairs. With a view to enhancing the functions of the WHETO and offering better service to the Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the region, the Immigration Division was set up at the end of last year. The Immigration Division provides assistance for Hong Kong residents in distress, covering matters such as loss of identity documents, accidents and casualties, and being arrested or detained for criminal offences. It also provides Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport replacement services for Hong Kong residents in the Mainland.
 
     The Director of the WHETO added that more and more Hong Kong residents are living in the Mainland on a long-term basis. Various ministries of the Central People's Government have put forward an array of measures to assist Hong Kong residents studying, working and living in the Mainland. To keep pace with the new situation, WHETO will further strengthen the connections with the provincial governments in the region and enhance government-to-government work, with the aims of promoting exchange and co-operation at all levels between Hong Kong and the region as well as facilitating the execution of the various assistance measures in the region, which could offer more convenience to Hong Kong residents studying, working and living in the Mainland.
 
     The office of the Immigration Division is located at Unit 4303, Tower I, New World International Trade Tower, 568 Jianshe Avenue, Jianghan District, Wuhan. Hong Kong people living in the region can contact the Immigration Division by phone at (86 27) 6560 7300, extension 7334, or by email at enquiry@wheto.gov.hk for assistance and enquiries.

Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Issued at HKT 20:05

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