The inauguration ceremony for the exchange mechanism for Hong Kong-related consular work between the Commissioner’s Office and the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government was held on 20 June 2009. Deputy Commissioner Yang Zigang and Director of Immigration Peh Hun-lu attended and addressed the ceremony.

Deputy Commissioner Yang Zigang reviewed the friendly ties and cooperation between the Commissioner’s Office and the Immigration Department over the years. He believed that after such a mechanism put in place, both sides can use it as a platform to further their cooperation and exchanges to perform even better in Hong Kong-related consular affairs given the increasingly closer ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong. He also briefed Immigration Department officers on the current international situation and China-US relations, which was welcomed by the whole audience.

Director Peh Hun-lu thanked the Commissioner’s Office for the support and assistance rendered to his department, and hailed the close ties and sound cooperation between the two sides since 1997. He agreed on the necessity to establish such an exchange mechanism between the two, which will help strengthen cooperation and friendship between them, and play a positive and important role in their respective work in future.

Director of the Consular Department of the Commissioner’s Office Mme. Chen Xiaoling and Assistant Director of the Immigration Department Mr. Chan Man-lang had the first exchange on relevant issues in Hong Kong-related consular affairs after the inauguration ceremony.