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<title>CANADA AND CHINA SIGN CONSULAR UNDERSTANDINGS</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">September 19, 1996 No. 165</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA AND CHINA SIGN CONSULAR UNDERSTANDINGS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Mr. Qian Qichen, the Vice-Premier and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, today signed two
understandings on consular relations between Canada and the People's Republic of
China.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The first understanding provides for Canada to retain its consular presence in
Hong Kong, through its Consulate General, after the territory's transition to
Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Our continued presence in Hong Kong ensures that we can keep on providing
consular services to Canadians who live, travel or do business there," said Mr.
Axworthy. "Hong Kong is an important trading partner for Canada, and people-to-people ties complement and reinforce our commercial links. This understanding is
part of our efforts to ensure a smooth transition in 1997."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The second understanding provides for the extension of the consular territories of
Canadian consulates in China and Chinese consulates in Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Under the terms of this understanding, the consular district of the Chinese
Consulate General in Vancouver, which currently comprises the Province of British
Columbia, will be extended to include the Province of Alberta and Yukon Territory.
The consular district of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, which at
present comprises the Province of Ontario, will expand to include the Province of
Manitoba.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">At the same time, Canada's Consulate General in Shanghai, which at present
comprises Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province, will also
include Anhui Province. The consular district of the Canadian Consulate in
Guangzhou, which currently comprises Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang
Nationality Autonomous Region, will include Fujian Province and Hainan Province.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"These changes in consular responsibility will help our missions in China to
provide improved service to Canadians," said Raymond Chan, Secretary of State
(Asia-Pacific), who witnessed the signing ceremony.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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