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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1975
MR. WANG ALSO EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISAPPROVAL +OF THOSE IN OUR MIDST WHO FOR REASONS BEST KNOWN TO THEMSELVES APPEAR IN THE ROLE OF JUDAS, I REFER TO THOSE FEW PEOPLE WHO AT TIMES, OR ANY MOMENT OF DISTRESS, ARE READY TO RAISE AN ACCUSING FINGER WITHOUT FIRST ASCERTAINING THE RIGHT TARGET.+
HE ADDED THAT WHILE HE HAD NOT ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THERE COULD DE NO DOUBT THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HAD ACTED IN THE MOST COMMENDABLE GOOD FAITH.
ANOTHER SPEAKER, THE HON. P.G. WILLIAMS, EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE JAPANESE CONSORTIUM WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER TODAY'S STATEMENTS IN COUNCIL AND THAT THE HATTER COULD DE SETTLED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO DOT! SIDES.
+ON THE BASIS OF THE FACTS PRESENTED AND, AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHALLENGED DY THE JAPANESE CONSORTIUM, THE SITUATION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTACLE, AND WE HUST OBTAIN FULL REPAYMENT OF OUR LOSSES,+ HE STRESSED.
KR. WILLIAMS EMPHASISED THAT THE MAIN THRUST OF THE UNOFFICIALS' COMPLAINT WAS THE LATENESS OF THE CONSORTIUM'S VITIIDNAVAL. +A LETTER OF INTENT MAY NOT BE A CONTRACT DUT IT IS AS GOOD AS A HANDSHAKE, AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR MOST OF US.+
IF THE CONSORTIUM HAD ADMITTED EARLIER THAT IT COULD NOT MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS, THE MATTER COULD HAVE DEEN SETTLED MORE SATISFACTORILY. <UE" ARE NOT UNREASONABLE PEOPLE AND WE ARE PREPARED TO FACE FACTS, HE SAID.
*BUT FOR TEN MONTHS WE HAVE VISIDLY DEEN SPENDING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ON THIS ADORTIVE SCNCKE, A GOOD PART OF WHICH IS NOW IRRECOVERABLE. AND THEY COME TO US WITH A DERISORY OFFER OF COMPENSATION: TO USE A JAPANESE WORD, AN OKUYAMIRYO OR CONDOLENCE PAYMENT WITH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, A MEJIMAL EXPRESSION OF REGRET.+
+THIS
MR. WILLIAMS EMPHASISED THAT GOOD RELATIONS WITH JAPAN ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO BOTH HONG KONG AND THE JAPANESE. UNHAPPY EVENT COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THIS RELATIONSHIP ADDING HUGELY TO THE LOSSES ON DOTH SIDES,◊ HE SAID, STRESSING THE NSED FOR EARLY AND FAIR SETTLEMENT ON THE ISSUE.
IN WINDING UP THE DEDATE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID HE FULLY ENDORSED THE NEMARKS MADE BY THE UNOFFICIALS ADOUT THE JAPANESE CONSORTIUM'S UNILATERAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS.
ON THE QUESTION OF PRESSING THE CONSORTIUM FOR A JUST AND FAIR COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT, HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY NAĎ DONE ITS DEST IN THIS RESPECT IN KEETINGS WITH THE JAPANESE CONSORTIUM,
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/DCHTEVER, MR. -