Press Release - August 9, 2002

The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (August 9) concluded his two-day visit in Canada, which he described as �constructive and meaningful�.

During his visit to Toronto on August 9, Mr Lam met with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon Bill Graham. At the meeting, both sides noted that Hong Kong and Canada had continued to maintain strong social and economic ties. Secretary Lam took the opportunity to brief Minister Graham on the latest developments of Hong Kong, in particular the new accountability system for principal officials recently adopted in the HKSAR Government.

�I was able to emphasize to Minister Graham that the accountability system had been designed to enhance Hong Kong�s governance and it was certainly a step towards the right direction. Minister Graham is glad to know that �One country, two systems� principle has been successfully implemented, and that the political transition in Hong Kong has taken place smoothly,� Mr Lam said at a press briefing held in Toronto today.

On August 8, Mr Lam also paid a visit to Hon Bernard Patry, Chair, House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa. Mr Patry welcomed the fact that the transition in 1997 had been smooth and that Hong Kong�s systems had been maintained.

During his visit to Canada, Mr Lam also met with the Ambassador of the People�s Republic of China and the Consul General of the People�s Republic of China in Toronto, as well as business leaders, academics, think tanks and media representatives.

Mr Lam was the first director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) from 1991 to 1994. After his return to Hong Kong, he has taken up a number of key posts, the latest of which is as the spokesperson for the Chief Executive�s Office of HKSAR Government.



For more information, please contact Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: 416-924-5544, e-mail: [email protected]

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam met with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon Bill Graham in Toronto today (August 9) during his two-day visit in Canada. Secretary Lam took the opportunity to brief Minister Graham on the latest developments of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in particular the new accountability system for principal officials recently adopted in the HKSAR Government.