Nation backs prosperity of HK after 1997

GOVERNMENT leaders and senior officials from Hong Kong and Canada say the friendship between the two long-standing trading partners will endure for years to come.

The bridges that Hong Kong has built over the past decades with Canada extend beyond bilateral trade and immigration.

At governmental level there has been a marked consolidation in collaboration efforts.

Mutual understanding is enhanced by outward flows of people. And, according to a senior Hong Kong Government official, this free movement of people ''adds to Hong Kong's strength to have a strong Hong Kong community in Canada''.

Discussing trade as well as other aspects of collaboration recently, Stephen Lam, director of Hong Kong economic and trade affairs, told the Hong Kong Canada Business Association in Toronto: ''The two-way flow of human traffic will continue and will be to our mutual benefit.'' He said the Canadian Government had reassured Hong Kong of Ottawa's continuing support and also of Canada's interest in the faithful implementation of the Joint Declaration.

Canada's commitment to the future of Hong Kong was assured by Governor General Ramon John Hnatyshyn who visited the territory in April.

''Canada's hope and aim is to promote a smooth transition in 1997, one that preserves Hong Kong's autonomy, prosperity, integrity and stability - and to ensure that Canada and Hong Kong will continue to enjoy a special relationship after 1997,'' Mr Hnatyshyn said.

He was speaking at a luncheon hosted by the president of the Legislative Council.

Referring to the relationship that bound the two partners, Mr Hnatyshyn said migration in the late 19th century profoundly influenced the character of Canada.

''Early immigrants from southern China and Hong Kong, often living in difficult conditions, helped lay foundations for a modern Canadian state,'' he said.

''These immigration and trade links achieved a more formal status with the opening in Hong Kong of one of Canada's earliest trade offices abroad in 1928.'' Commission for Canada statistics show that Hong Kong remained the largest source of immigrants to Canada. This position has continued since 1987.

Preliminary figures for last year show that more than 35,000 landed in Canada as immigrants, compared with slightly above 29,000 in 1990.

Hong Kong immigrants landing in Canada between January and September last year were more than the combined total from China, Poland and Sri Lanka.

Immigrant visas issued since 1986 have tripled from more than 8,000 in 1986, to in excess of 31,000 last year.

Business immigrants were the largest group, making up more than 39 per cent of the total.

These figures illustrate that Canada has become a second home to many people here.

In a speech to the Chinese Canadian Association, Mr Hnatyshyn said there were many institutional linkages and that ''Canadian and Hong Kong counterparts meet regularly in such forums as parliamentary exchange programmes and civil service exchanges''.

Reaffirming Canada's commitment to the friendship, Mr Hnatyshyn also said Canada would continue to ''encourage separate Hong Kong participation in relevant international forums, especially GATT and APEC. We seek to conclude bilateral agreements with Hong Kong that will be in force beyond 1997''.

Several bilateral agreements have been concluded.

In 1988, Canada became the third country to sign an air services agreement with Hong Kong.

Mr Lam said: ''Canada and Hong Kong have been working together on a number of policy areas and have concluded several memoranda of understanding. One of these concerns environmental collaboration.

''Since it was signed in 1992, Hong Kong and Canada have worked together on a number of projects.'' He said a few months ago, the two governments conducted a workshop on environmental impact assessment.

In education, a school pairing project was being organised between Hong Kong and Vancouver to study and exchange information on water quality, he said.

In September last year, an Agreement on the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders was signed.

''We will be enacting legislation to ensure that this agreement will continue to apply beyond 1997,'' Mr Lam said.

Referring to other areas of co-operation, he said a Hong Kong producer was making a film in Canada under the Hong Kong Canada Film and Television Co-Production Memorandum.