Shipping links between Taiwan and Hong Kong have been an issue of high concern to Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China since the handover of Hong Kong to mainland China's jurisdiction in 1997. In March 1997, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) sent a letter to the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) notifying that it had entrusted Zhao Shiguang of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association to exchange views with a counterpart body designated by the Taiwan side. On April 12, the Mainland Affairs Council officially authorized the SEF to handle this matter. The SEF designated Deputy Secretary-general Chang as the chief representative in the talks. During the May 2 "Hong Kong Meeting" and May 24 "Taipei Talks," the two sides reached a consensus and signed the "Minutes of Talks on Taiwan-Hong Kong Shipping Negotiations." On June 16, the SEF and ARATS completed the letter exchange procedures and the agreement came into effect on July 1. The successful completion of this mission within the deadline enabled shipping between Taiwan and Hong Kong to smoothly continue after the handover date.