FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1985
TALKS WITH SENATOR DOLE CONSTRUCTIVE
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GOVERNOR
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH U.S. SENATOR, MR ROBERT DOLE, OVER TRADE MATTERS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY.
HE WAS TALKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAMBER IN TSUEN WAN.
ASKED ABOUT HIS TALKS WITH THE SENATOR AND HIS PARTY, SIR EDWARD SAID WE HAD A VERY GOOD TALK. HE HAS TALKED WITH ́MANY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS.
+THEY HAVE EXPLAINED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THE SITUATION AS THEY SEE IT, AND WE OF COURSE, EXPLAINED TO THEM IN A VERY AMICABLE FASHION THE SITUATION AS WE SEE IT.
+SO WE HAD A PLEASANT LUNCH WITH HIM, AND HE HAD GOOD TALKS, I THINK, HE AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS DELEGATION, WITH MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THIS MORNING.+
ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THE JENKINS BILL BEING PASSED, SIR EDWARD SAID HE WOULD NOT LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF A BILL IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.+
+BUT I THINK THAT WHAT HONG KONG THINKS ON THE TRADE ISSUE IS NOW VERY WELL KNOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONGRESSMEN THROUGH HERE THIS WEEK, HE SAID.
ASKED IF HE THOUGHT THAT HONG KONG COULD BE MADE A SPECIAL CASE, AS CALLED FOR BY MR DOLE, SIR EDWARD SAID: +1 THINK HIS JUDGEMENT OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SENATE IS REALLY MUCH BETTER THAN MINE.+
ASKED TO CONFIRM REPORTS THAT BY 1994 HONG KONG'S CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD BE A LOCAL CHINESE, SIR EDWARD SAID: I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS A VERY NATURAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME AND WILL CONTINUE.
BUT IT IS LAID DOWN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT AT THAT TIME THERE WILL BE LOCAL HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
ASKED ABOUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS CIVIL SERVANTS JOINING THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, SIR EDWARD SAID: +SO FAR, I THINK, NO ONE HAS BEEN INVITED OR ASKED TO JOIN, AND I THINK A LOT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THE POSITION OF THE CIVIL SERVANT WAS AND WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE IR JOBS AND SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE.+
/ON A