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Many foreign dignitaries visit Hong Kong each year. The number of such visits has grown since 1997 as many of them have included Hong Kong as a destination on their trips to China, while others have visited Hong Kong specifically to see "One Country, Two Systems" in operation. The level of VIP visits is also boosted by major international conferences held in Hong Kong in recent years. The Protocol Division extends courtesies and hospitalities to the visiting royalties and senior government leaders of foreign countries on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), working closely with the Consular Posts in the HKSAR in this regard.
Since the reunification on 1 July 1997, a number of foreign state
or government leaders have visited Hong Kong. So far, over 70 foreign
dignitaries at senior ministerial level and above have been invited
to Hong Kong under our "Official Visitors Programme".
In 2007, there were three official visits to Hong Kong -
| |
Foreign Dignitaries |
Time of Visit |
| (i) |
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Mr Shaukat Aziz |
March 2007 |
| (ii) |
Crown Prince of Belgium and his spouse
Their Royal Highness Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde |
June 2007 |
| (iii) |
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa |
November 2007 |
In 2006, there were two official visits to Hong Kong -
| |
Foreign Dignitaries |
Time of Visit |
| (i) |
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Rt Hon Helen Clark |
December 2006 |
| (ii) |
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
HE Nursultan Nazarbayev |
December 2006 |
In 2005, there were eight official visits to Hong Kong -
| |
Foreign Dignitaries |
Time of Visit |
| (i) |
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour of the State of Israel
Mr Ehud Olmert |
January 2005 |
| (ii) |
Prime Minister of Ireland
Mr Bertie Ahern, T.D. |
January 2005 |
| (iii) |
Prime Minister of Canada
The Rt Hon Paul Martin |
January 2005 |
| (iv) |
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Mr Jan Petersen |
March 2005 |
| (v) |
President of the European Commission
Mr José Manuel Barroso |
July 2005 |
| (vi) |
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Mr Shaukat Aziz |
August 2005 |
| (vii) |
Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary
Mr Ferenc Gyurcsány |
September 2005 |
| (viii) |
Prime Minister of Belgium
Mr Guy Verhofstadt |
November 2005 |
In 2004, there were seven official visits to Hong Kong -
| |
Foreign Dignitaries |
Time of Visit |
| (i) |
Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland
Ms Mary Harney, T.D. |
March 2004 |
| (ii) |
President of the Czech Republic
HE Václav Klaus |
April 2004 |
| (iii) |
President of the Republic of Latvia
HE Mrs Vaira Vike-Freiberga |
April 2004 |
| (iv) |
Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait
HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
July 2004 |
| (v) |
King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
His Majesty King Abdullah II |
July 2004 |
| (vi) |
President of the French Republic
Mr Jacques Chirac |
October 2004 |
| (vii) |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the State of Israel
Mr Silvan Shalom |
November 2004 |
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