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MACLENNAN INQUIRY

6.

The circumstances of the death of Inspector MacLennan are

being examined by an independent Commission of Inquiry. It would

not be appropriate for me to comment on the case before the

Commission has reported.

UNITED KINGDOM/HONG KONG AIR SERVICES

7.

The Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority is an

independent body. Therefore, neither we nor the Hong Kong

Government, who publicly supported the LakerAirways application,

can tell it what to do.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS' FEES

8.

The Government felt unable to continue to subsidise overseas

students, other than those from the European Community, in the

United Kingdom's present economic circumstances. The Department

of Education and Science and other interested Departments are

monitoring the consequences of this decision.

INTERNAL MATTERS

9.

These are the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government

and are not ones in which Her Majesty's Government would wish

to intervene. I am confident that they will be resolved

expeditiously and equitably. I know, for instance, that very

careful study is being given to the proposals for increases in

bus fares, in which the interests of the travelling public will

be fully taken into account. Problems of rents, domestic and

commercial, are also under review. As far as civil liberties

are concerned, Hong Kong has a prolific free press, radio and

television, an independent judiciary and of course has the

doctrine of habeas corpus.

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