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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1993
GOVERNOR TO HIGHLIGHT TRADE ISSUES IN U.S. TOUR
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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL BE SETTING OUT WHY THE STATUS OF THE MOST FAVOURED NATION FOR CHINA IS IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG AND WHY CONTINUING TO OPEN UP MARKETS FOR TRADE IN ASIA, THE U.S. AND EUROPE IS SO IMPERATIVE FOR HONG KONG DURING HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE DEPARTURE AT THE AIRPORT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE HAVE A VERY STRONG ECONOMIC AND TRADING RELATIONSHIP AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO ALL WE CAN TO STRENGTHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP AND STRENGTHEN MUTUAL CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING.
HE SAID ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A GOOD DEAL DURING HIS VISIT WAS THE IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG OF A GOOD TRADING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA
AND, ABOVE ALL, TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MFN STATUS FOR CHINA IN THAT RELATIONSHIP.
BUT HE ADDED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MAIN FOCUS OF HIS VISIT WOULD BE ECONOMICS AND TRADE, THERE WAS LIKELY TO BE SOME QUESTIONING ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES AS WELL.
"THERE IS OBVIOUSLY TREMENDOUS INTEREST ALL ROUND THE WORLD IN THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT HISTORIC JOINT DECLARATION, SCARCELY SURPRISING BECAUSE HONG KONG IS THE 10TH LARGEST TRADING COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD, A GREAT INTERNATIONAL CENTRE AND THE WORLD
STABLE A
OUT THERE IS CONCERNED OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE PROSPEROUS AND AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE VALUES WHICH HAVE HELPED TO MAKE IT SUCH SUCCESS STORY," HE SAID.
"BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED MYSELF THE BEST WAY OF PURSUING THOSE IS BY DRAGGING TRADE INTO THE ARGUMENT, HE ADDED.
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"I KNOW HOW STRONGLY POLITICAL AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE UNITED STATES FEEL ABOUT ONE OR TWO ISSUES.
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REASONABLY
BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO ARGUE TO THEM T HOPE CONVINCINGLY THAT THE BEST THING FOR THIS REGION AND BEST THING FOR THE WORLD IS MORE TRADE AND FREER TRADE, NOT LESS TRADE AND MORE RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE."
IN REPLY ΤΟ A QUESTION ON THE TIMING OF INTRODUCING THE ELECTION BILL TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE HAVE TWO AIMS. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO DO IS TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH OF THEM.
ONE AIM IS TO GIVE THESE TALKS A FAIR WIND AND TO COMPLETE THEM SUCCESSFULLY. THE OTHER AIM, NOT UNREASONABLY, IS TO GIVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE ΤΟ DISCUSS THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994 AND 95, AND TO HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE WELL BEFORE THE ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND 95.
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HE ADDED THAT THESE AIMS HAD TO BE BALANCED.
"IN BALANCING THE TWO AIMS, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT, ABOVE ALL, OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING IN PLACE FAIR ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL LAST AND WHICH WILL BE THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG AND THAT'S THE BACKDROP TO THESE DISCUSSIONS, HE SAID.
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