On May 20, 2008, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo met with a delegation headed by the newly-appointed Director of Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG), Simon Peh. Director General Wei Wei of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was present at the meeting.

Peh first expressed condolences over the devastating earthquake in Sichuan. Wu introduced China's disaster relief efforts, saying that when the people in Sichuan were in deep sorrow, the HKSARG sent rescue teams to the quake-hit areas. The HKSARG and compatriots in Hong Kong have offered sincere sympathy and strong assistance to the people in the quake-hit areas, which represents the spirit that blood is thicker than water.

Wu made positive comments on the exchanges and cooperation of the Immigration Department with the Foreign Ministry's Department of Consular Affairs and the Commissioner's Office of the MFA of PRC in Hong Kong in recent years, noting that the fruitful cooperation between both sides on Hong Kong-related consular protection and Hong Kong visa has helped ensure orderly, smooth development of Hong Kong's external exchanges. Wu congratulated Peh for his appointment as Director of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and wished the Immigration Department greater contributions to prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and to the benefits of Hong Kong citizens. He also expressed hope that both sides will better cooperate in consular affairs and offer swift assistance to Hong Kong compatriots both at home and abroad that need help.

Peh expressed sincere thanks for the assistance and support offered by the Department of Consular Affairs and the Commissioner's Office of the MFA of PRC in Hong Kong to the Immigration Department in promoting SAR passport and other areas. He said Hong Kong-related consular protection work of Chinese embassies and consulates stationed in foreign countries is widely applauded by the Hong Kong people. Hong Kong residents are fully confident of the effective consular protection offered by Chinese embassies and consulates overseas and more and more Hong Kong citizens are ready to apply for SAR passport. Peh also introduced the recent consultations between the HKSARG and relevant countries on mutual exemption of visa and asked for the assistance from the Foreign Ministry.