WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993
32
RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ISSUES ON JLG AGENDA URGED
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LIAISON
GROUP
HONG KONG HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT THE JOINT (JLG) PERFORMS AND COMPLETES THE TASK SET FOR IT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
TODAY
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC BRITISH INTEREST TO BE SERVED BY RESOLVING THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES ON THE JLG AGENDA, OTHER THAN AN AIM OF GOVERNING HONG KONG AS WELL AND AS COMPETENTLY AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.
"BUT SETTLING THESE MATTERS WILL BE OF DIRECT BENEFIT TO HONG KONG SAR (SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION) AND CHINA.
THE
AND
"FAILING ΤΟ DO SO WILL CREATE UNNECESSARY UNCERTAINTY CONFUSION ABOUT THE TRANSITION AND WILL CALL INTO DOUBT THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S VITAL LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD," THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SENSE OF
NOTING THAT THE JLG'S WORK HAD ALMOST COME TO A HALT, MR PATTEN SAID: "IT IS, THEREFORE, ESSENTIAL THAT WE INJECT A NEW URGENCY INTO THE JLG."
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE ISSUES INVOLVED GENERALLY POLITICAL, BUT ALMOST ALWAYS, TECHNICAL OR MATTERS.
SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES ARE:
WERE NOT PRACTICAL
* THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS TO
PRESERVE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISA-FREE TRAVEL OVERSEAS FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE AFTER 1997. EASE OF TRAVEL OVERSEAS IS A CONVENIENCE WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE RIGHTLY ENJOY; IT ALSO FACILITATES TRADE AND TOURISM AND THUS MAKES AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY. IF AN AGREEMENT COULD NOT BE REACHED IN THE JLG, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THESE ARRANGEMENTS COULD SURVIVE 1997.
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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A NETWORK OF AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND KEY AVIATION PARTNERS WHICH WILL EXTEND BEYOND 1997. A NUMBER OF INITIALLED AGREEMENTS ARE NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE JLG. IF THIS PROGRAMME WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HONG KONG'S EXISTING CIVIL AVIATION RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE CALLED INTO DOUBT AND HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AS A MAJOR CENTRE OF INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION WILL SUFFER.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NEGOTIATING AGREEMENTS WITH A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO RETURN FUGITIVE CRIMINALS TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND TO GET BACK CRIMINALS WHO FLEE FROM HONG KONG. THESE AGREEMENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CRIME. IF THESE AGREEMENTS ARE TO REMAIN VALID AFTER 1997 THEY MUST BE CLEARED THROUGH THE JLG. IF THEY ARE NOT ALL IN PLACE
BY 1997, THE ABILITY TO FIGHT INTERNATIONAL CRIME WILL BE IMPAIRED AND HONG KONG RISKS BECOMING A HAVEN FOR CRIMINALS.
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