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132744 MDHIAN 578
RELATIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS. HE SHOULD NOT OFFEND CHINA BUT
HAD TO EXPLAIN PROBLEMS SO AS TO WORK OUT SOLUTIONS TO SATISFY
ALL PARTIES.
5. TODAY'S PAPERS HAD VERY LITTLE NEW TO SAY IN THE NEWS SECTION, EXCEPT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND MR PATTEN. THE CHINESE LANGUAGE PAPERS SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS
TO DISCUSS WITH MR PATTEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHETHER IT SHOULD BE CHANGED OR REINFORCED. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS TO SOUND OUT IDEAS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO A REDUCTION OF THE GOVERNOR'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF THE TERRITORY AND A GREATER ROLE FOR THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THIS WOULD FREE MR PATTEN TO CONCENTRATE ON MAJOR ISSUES, SUCH AS THE HAND-OVER OF HONG KONG AND THE TERRITORY'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS.
REACTION
6. SOME PAPERS ON SUNDAY RELAYED HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARY'S TELEVISION INTERVIEW IN LONDON. MR HURD SAID THAT THE
CHOICE OF MR PATTEN AS GOVERNOR REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE BRITAIN
ATTACHED TO HONG KONG. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
HAD IN EFFECT LISTENED TO HONG KONG PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON THE NEW GOVERNORSHIP.
·
7 A CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT WAS WIDELY REPORTED SAYING CHINA HOPED MR PATTEN WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE TO THE CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AS WELL AS THE CONSULTATION AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG.
8. LOCALLY, EXCO AND LEGCO MEMBER HUI YIN-FAT WAS QUOTED IN MANY REPORTS TO HAVE SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THE NEW GOVERNOR WOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS IN REFLECTING HONG KONG VIEWS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, AS HE HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE TOP LEVEL. THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION ISSUED A STATEMENT URGING THE NEW GOVERNOR TO PROMPTLY HANDLE SUCH PROBLEMS AS LAW AND ORDER, INFLATION AND HOUSING. THE FEDERATION SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN GOOD UK-CHINA-HK RELATIONS. THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOMED MR PATTEN'S APPOINTMENT SAYING THAT THIS WOULD FURTHER INCREASE THE BUSINESS SECTOR'S CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. LEGCO MEMBER NGAI SHIU-KIT TOLD THE HONG KONG CHINA
NEWS AGENCY THAT HE WAS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE NEW GOVERNOR. HE BELIEVED MR PATTEN WOULD FOLLOW THE CONSERVATIVES' POLICIES, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTOR IN HONG
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