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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
COMMENTING ON REPORTS THAT CHINA WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, MR FORD SAID THEY WERE ENTIRELY SPECULATIVE.
AS TO WHETHER THERE WERE ANY DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND CHINA AFTER THE DEATH OF THE LATE GOVERNOR, MR FORD SAID +REGULAR CONTACTS, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE CONTINUED ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS. THAT WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE THROUGH THE YEAR. THAT IS NOTHING UNUSUAL,+
TURNING TO THE TOPIC OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY DISAGREED WITH A SUGGESTION THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD COME TO A HALT.
+IN FACT, AS A RESULT OF THE REPRESENTATIONS WHICH WERE MADE IN THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, THERE IS VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN NOW TO THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG AND AS THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID WHEN HE CAME BACK, THIS MATTER IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE PERSONALLY,+ HE ADDED.
ASKED ABOUT THE POST OF A DEPUTY GOVERNOR, MR FORD SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT SUCH A POST.
+THERE IS NOT UNDER CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT THE QUESTION OF ESTABLISHING A DEPUTY GOVERNOR. THAT WILL BE A MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, AND IT'S NOT ONE WHICH WE ENVISAGE HAPPENING CERTAINLY IN THE SHORT TERM.
+SEPARATE TO THAT QUESTION IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES' EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE NEW GOVERNOR ON HIS ARRIVAL. IF YOU ASK FOR MY PERSONAL OPINION ON THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF SIR DAVID'S ADVICE WERE AVAILABLE TO SEE THE NEW GOVERNOR IN FOR A SHORT WHILE, BUT THAT IS A QUESTION WHICH IS PRESENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION. +
ON THE NEW DEFENCE PACT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING DEFENCE COST AGREEMENT WOULD SOON EXPIRE.
+WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT SHOULD BE RENEWED, AND HOW NEGOTIATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, HE ADDED.
ASKED WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY FURTHER RESTRUCTURING IN THE GOVERNMENT, MR FORD SAID: THE RESTRUCTURING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE PLANNED AT THE MOMENT. +
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