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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1993
GOVT VIGOROUSLY DEALS WITH CRIME: GOVERNOR
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HONG KONG HAS SEEN A FALL IN VIOLENT CRIME, SMALL FALL BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE
COMMENTING ON YESTERDAY'S BANK ROBBERY IN TSIM SHA TSUI, GOVERNOR SAID THERE WAS A FALL IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES COMMITTED WITH FIREARMS.
HE TOLD REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE TIN KA PING BUILDING IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY THAT ANY CRIME LIKE THE ONE YESTERDAY WOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE GOVERNMENT AS VIGOROUSLY AS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WOULD WANT IT TO.
"ALL OF US HAVE TO PLAY OUR PART IN MAKING CRIME MORE DIFFICULT RATHER THAN EASIER," HE SAID, NOTING THAT HONG KONG WAS AS WELL POLICED AS ANY CITY OR COMMUNITY IN THE REGION, OR EVEN IN THE WORLD.
ON SIR ROBIN MCLAREN'S CURRENT VISIT TO HONG KONG AND PROGRES3 MADE IN THE PAST 11TH ROUNDS OF ELECTION TALKS IN BEIJING, THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE HAD BEEN PROGRESS, THOUGH THERE WAS STILL A GREAT DEAL TO ACCOMPLISH.
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"WHAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO DO IS TO BUILD TOWARDS
SUCCESS,
HE SAID.
"SO WE
WILL BE SPENDING OUR TIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS SERING WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THESE TALKS COME TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION, DIFFICULT THOUGH THAT ENTERPRISE MAY BE.
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"THROUGHOUT WE'VE HAD TWO VERY CLEAR OBJECTIVES. AND WE'VE, THINK, KEPT HOLD OF THESE OBJECTIVES WHILE RESPONDING TO LEGITIMATE CHINESE CONCERNS DURING THESE TALKS, HE SAID.
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FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO HAVE OPEN AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND 1995. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD BE COMMON TO EVERYONE.
"SECONDLY, WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THE THROUGH TRAIN. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS IN 1994/95 IF THOSE WHO STAND FOR ELECTION IN 95 AND WERE ELECTED IN 95 DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN TRAVEL THROUGH TO 1999, PROVIDED THEY CAN MEET OBJECTIVE CRITERIA SET OUT IN ADVANCE."
THAT
ASKED ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR'S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, MR PATTEN SAID THERE WAS NO EASY SOLUTION BY TRYING TO UNCOUPLE ONE PART OF THE ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS FROM THE OTHERS.
"WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME, WE GOT TO GET ON AND TRY то REACH AN AGREEMENT. IF WE CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT, THEN WE SHALL HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
"BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN то BRING THESE NEGOTIATIONS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION."
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