A 10-member delegation from Hong Kong Immigration Department will leave on an 11-day study visit to the mainland cities of Beijing, Chengdu and Dalian next Wednesday, the department announced Monday.

The visit, arranged by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, aims to enhance understanding and cooperation between the immigration department and relevant mainland authorities and promote a good working relationship, it said.

Led by Hong Kong Principal Immigration Officer Kwan Chan Suet- mui, the delegation includes five officer-grade and four rank-and- file grade staff members.

The group will visit the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Capital International Airport, the Immigration Section of the Hong Kong Government's Beijing Office, as well as the public security bureau, foreign affairs office, travel document and exit endorsement-issuing offices in the three cities.

Deputy Director Chow Kwok-chuen said cooperation and communication between the department and the relevant mainland authorities have been increasing since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, and regular study visits to the mainland are desirable.

Source: Xinhua