bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Jimmy Cheung

Visiting international dignitaries have been assured of a cordial welcome despite plans by the protocol division to trim spending.

 Services will be improved to complement the policy of hosting more international events to strengthen Hong Kong's cosmopolitan status.

 The 17-strong division is exploring ways to achieve government targets of a five per cent productivity gain from its $58 million annual budget.

 Director of Protocol Lilian Wong Tai Wai-yin expressed confidence in achieving the target without compromising service.

 'What we have prepared for the dignitaries will affect their first impression of Hong Kong. Our image would be tarnished if the service quality is not maintained,' she said.

 Possible savings include cutting the more than $20 million spent a year on the airport VIP lounge by using less electricity and more contract staff.

 But Mrs Wong is likely to seek legislators' approval to retain an assistant director's post, which was only approved for three years by the provisional legislature.

 Experience had shown consular corps preferred to deal with directorate-grade officials, she said.

 'Often their representatives are senior diplomats. If we send directorate staff to contact them, they feel the Government attaches importance to them and gives them 'face',' she said.

 Describing protocol as an art, Mrs Wong said a code unique to the SAR was gradually taking shape following the 11 state and official visits last year, including visits by presidents Jiang Zemin and Bill Clinton.

 The Chief Executive sits with the visiting head of state at official banquets - different from the international practice of seating the visiting head of state with the first lady of the hosting country.

 Mrs Wong said Tung Chee-hwa preferred to spend time on policy discussions.

 Arrangements would follow the international trend of becoming increasingly simple but dignified, she said.

 Mrs Wong is paying a week-long visit to Australia and New Zealand beginning today.



VIPs to get top service despite a trim budget