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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993
FS DISAPPOINTED BY VOTING ABSTENTIONS
* * 岸
SECRETARY,
THE FINANCIAL
MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID (WEDNESDAY) HE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THE ABSTENTIONS IN THE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
IN
REPLY
THERE TO QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS, HE SAID GREAT MAJORITY OF SUPPORT FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND THAT MOST WERE THAT IT WAS A PRETTY POPULAR BUDGET.
"IF
TODAY VOTING
WAS
VIEWS
A
GIVE
ARE THERE
PEOPLE WHO STILL CAN'T FEEL
CAN THEY
SUPPORT,
EVEN THIS YEAR WHEN IT IS A POPULAR BUDGET, THAT REALLY MAKES ** HE IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE HOW WE WOULD EVER GET THEIR SUPPORT, SAID.
HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT HE WOULD KEEP ON TRYING.
"MY AIM IS TO CONVERT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT BUDGETS, AND NEXT WE'LL AIM FOR 100 PER CENT SUPPORT, HE SAID.
YEAR
SECRETARY
SAID HE EXPERIMENTED
THIS
YEAR
ON
FINANCIAL THE HAVING MUCH MORE CONSULTATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
"WE WILL DEFINITELY CARRY ON WITH THAT IN THE COMING YEAR. THAT WILL HELP TO MOULD THE NEXT BUDGET, HE ADDED.
TT
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NO ONE WISHES TO DAMAGE HK: CS
* * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY} HE DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS IN CHINA'S INTEREST TO DAMAGE HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IN THE FACE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL DEBATE.
I
"IN FACT, QUITE THE OPPOSITE. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE SAID AS MUCH THEMSELVES, SIR DAVID SAID IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID HE TOOK SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE COMMENTS LAST WEEK BY THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE UNDER CHINA'S STATE COUNCIL, MR LU PING'S THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BUSINESS ΤΟ BE DISCUSSED AND THAT THE TWO SIDES SHOULD GET ON WITH IT.
THOSE VIEWS WERE ECHOED BY A NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY OFFICIAL
YESTERDAY.
"THEY ARE OUR VIEWS TOO AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROPOSE TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT WE DO INDEED GET ON WITH IT.'
T
SIR DAVID SAID IT COULD BE TO NO PARTY'S INTEREST TO TAKE ACTION THAT UNDERMINED HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
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