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067204
MDHIAN 0430
WASHINGTON PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR HONG KONG
NCNA STATEMENT ON TAMAR
NCNA ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY
BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S UNILATERAL DECISION ON TAMAR NAVAL BASE
CRITICISED
HONG KONG, OCTOBER 18 (XINHUA) -
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS NO
RIGHT TO MAKE AN UNILATERAL DECISION ON HANDLING THE ISSUE RELATED TO HMS TAMAR NAVAL BASE AND OTHER BRITISH MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
IN HONG KONG NOW.
KE ZAISHUO, CHINESE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, TOLD XINHUA HERE TODAY.
IT IS THE CHINESE SIDE'S PERSISTENT STAND THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED
ISSUE SHOULD BE SETTLED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS BY THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, HE SAID.
KE SAID THE ISSUE IS REFERRED TO THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE CHINESE
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY TO BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997. SO FAR, HE NOTED, BOTH SIDES, CHINA AND BRITAIN, STILL HAVE NOT REACHED UNANIMOUS VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE THOUGH THEY DISCUSSED IT ON MANY OCCASIONS WITHIN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP. KE SAID THE CHINESE SIDE HAS ALWAYS TAKEN A COOPERATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ISSUE, EARNESTLY HOLDING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE BRITISH SIDE.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE BRITISH SIDE UNILATERALLY ANNOUNCED THE DECISION IN PUBLIC ON THIS OUTSTANDING ISSUE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE
IT AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT AND FORCE CHINA TO BE RECOGNISED. THIS IS UNABLE FOR US TO BE ACCEPTED, HE ADDED.
2. IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA QUESTIONS WE ARE SAYING QUOTE WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THE RECLAMATION WAS
MADE PURELY ON ECONOMIC AND PLANNING GROUNDS. THERE ARE STRONG DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORT REASONS FOR GOING AHEAD WITH THE
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