The Financial Secretary and Secretary for Justice are to visit Beijing after the Budget is announced next month. It will be Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's first visit to the capital since the handover. Elsie Leung Oi-sie will also visit, either in late February or early March, meeting officials from police and justice departments, and at the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. The visits are part of a series announced by Tung Chee-hwa to boost mutual understanding. Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang visited Beijing this month. Professor Lau Siu-kai of the Chinese University's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies said the visits allowed direct contact with Beijing officials and could help SAR officials reduce their dependence on advice from pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong.
