THAT
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
UNCONDITIONAL MFN RENEWAL VITAL TO HK, CHINA
* * * *
INTERESTS
IT IS IN HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AS WELL AS IN CHINA'S MOST FAVOURED NATION (MFN) STATUS FOR CHINA IS RENEWED UNCONDITIONALLY, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID
TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD NEED TO CAMPAIGN VIGOROUSLY AND
ENTHUSIASTICALLY
FOR THE UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL.
"I SAID THAT I INTENDED TO DO THAT IN THE PAST AND I SHALL CERTAINLY BE DOING IT IN THE FUTURE AND I HOPE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHEN I DO THAT IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE, ADDED.
ון
HE
HE SAID AT A MEETING WITH THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONALS FEDERATION EARLIER TODAY THEY TOTALLY AGREED ON THE IMPERATIVE IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG OF UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF MFN FOR CHINA.
ASKED ABOUT U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT MR CLINTON'S REMARKS THIS MORNING, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE INTERESTED IN HOW WE SUCCEED IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION BECAUSE HONG KONG IS A GREAT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
"THERE ARE 250,000 EXPATRIATES LIVING IN HONG KONG. HONG KONG IS A PART OF THE WORLD THAT EVERYBODY LOOKS TO AND EVERYBODY WILL BE INTERESTED IN HOW WE SUCCEED IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION AND GUARANTEEING FOR THE FUTURE NOT ONLY HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, BUT ALSO HONG KONG'S WAY OF LIFE."
ASKED HOW HE WOULD DISCUSS HIS PROPOSALS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WHEN I WAS IN PEKING THE FOREIGN MINISTER SUGGESTED THAT THE JLG (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) WAS ONE OF THE CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH WE COULD CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ABOUT OTHER MATTERS, AND THAT IS OF COURSE STILL THE POSITION,
ΤΟ
"I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT I'M PREPARED TO GO ANYWHERE AND TALK ANYBODY ABOUT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHAT IS OF COURSE ALWAYS DIFFICULT IS TO BE IN A SITUATION IN WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PUTS FORWARD PROPOSALS FOR DISCUSSION BUT OTHERS ARE LESS WILLING TO DO SO."
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