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THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1984
USE PROPER CHANNEL FOR PUBLIC VIEWS
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GOVERNOR
THERE IS NO REASON AT ALL TO INTERPRET THE CHANGE OF THE LEADER OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION TO THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS A DOWNGRADING OF THE TALKS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY.
SIR EDWARD WAS REPLYING TO A REPORTER WHO ASKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF MR YAO GUANG BY MR ZHOU NAN AS LEADER OF THE CHINESE TEAM.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WHILE HE WAS AWAY, HE HAD BEEN KEPT FULLY INFORMED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY ABOUT THE TAXI DRIVER DISPUTE AND THE STREET DISTURBANCES ON JANUARY 13.
+I WAS VERY CONCERNED INDEED TO HEAR OF THOSE DISTURBANCES AND I THINK THEY WILL BE CONDEMNED BY EVERYBODY WHO HAS HONG KONG'S BEST INTEREST AT HEART, HE SAID AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAS ALSO HEARD OF THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE REGISTRATION TAX AND LICENCE FEES FOR TAXIS.
+WHAT THAT HAS SHOWN IS THAT THERE IS A CHANNEL IN HONG KONG FOR THE EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC VIEWS, HE SAID. AND THAT IS THE CHANNEL WHICH SHOULD BE USED.+
+ IT WILL NOW BE FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS IN THE LIGHT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THAT DEBATE,+ HE SAID.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS BADLY ADVISED ON THE TAXIS ISSUE, SIR EDWARD SAID, I THINK EXCO TOOK THE DECISION TO INTRODUCE IT INTO THE LÉGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR DEBATE, AND THAT IS WHAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DOES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO DEBATE THESE ISSUES.+
ON HIS TRIP TO LONDON TOGETHER WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR EDWARD SAID THEY HAD A SERIES OF INTENSIVE MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERS.
+WE WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TALKS IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT ROUND WHEN SIR RICHARD EVANS WILL BE TAKING OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DELEGATION.
+THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY ONCE AGAIN REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FULLY INFORMED AND RECEIVING THEIR ADVICE.
+THIS VISIT GAVE US A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT PURPOSE, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HIS VISIT TO NEW YORK HAD GIVEN HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE VERY INFLUENTIAL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.
/+MY MESSAGE