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FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1994
REPORTER THIS ISSUE THEN
CAN THE PEOPLE HONG KONG NOW SIT BACK AND RELAX ABOUT
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MRS CHAN : WELL, CERTAINLY DELINKING MEANS IT IS NO LONGER AN ANNUAL IRRITANT AND WILL NO LONGER DOMINATE THE US-CHINA RELATIONSHIP. OF COURSE, WE ENTIRELY AGREE WITH THE CONTINUED CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT THAT
WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA BY DELINKING THE TWO THAN BY LINKING IT AND I AM SURE, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS,
REPORTER COMMISSION
RENEWAL ?
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: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SETTING UP A HUMAN RIGHTS WILL THIS BE AS EFFECTIVE AS HAVING THE THREAT OVER MEN
MRS CHAN : WE BELIEVE THAT CONTINUOUS TRADE, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE CHINESE IN THE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND TO HAVE A MEANS OF INFLUENCING CHINA IS LIKELY TO DO MORE TO SECURE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENT IN CHINA THAN BY ISOLATING CHINA AND REFUSING TO DEAL WITH IT.
FS SPEAKS TO MEDIA
FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF FINANCIAL SECRETARY SIR HAMISH MACLEOD'S MEDIA SESSION AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES TODAY (FRIDAY) ON THE ISSUE OF MOST FAVOURED NATION (MPN) RENEWAL:
Q: CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE RENEWAL OF MFN?
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GRATEFUL
FS: I THINK MFN RENEWAL IS GREAT NEWS, I THINK WE SHOULD BE TO THE U.S GOVERNMENT, CLEARLY THEY'VE LISTENED TO HK'S REPRESENTATIONS AND HAVE BORNE THEM VERY MUCH IN MIND, SO I THINK THE OUTCOME IS EXCELLENT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GET TOO HUNG UP ON ALL THE DETAILS, THE EIGHT POINTS AND SO ON, I THINK THE BASIC DECISION IS VERY CLEAR, HUMAN RIGHTS IS TO BE TREATED SEPARATELY FROM MFN DECISIONS. [ THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY MADE A STEP FORWARD, AND OF COURSE IN ESSENCE, MFN IS RENEWED. SO THE EFFECT ON HONG KONG... NOT ONLY THAT OUR TRADE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BUT A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IS REMOVED.
Q:
IS
THERE IS SOME CONCERNS THAT CHINA MIGHT REACT HARSHLY TOWARDS THE SANCTIONS ON MILITARY PRODUCT, DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE OF HK COULD DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH THE CONNECTIONS WITH BEIJING TO ALLAY THESE CONCERNS..
PS: I THINK THAT HAS BEEN PLAYED UP MUCH TOO HARD. THE PRODUCTS WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE EXCEPTION... I UNDERSTAND IS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF TRADE, I DON'T SEE ANY SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT FROM THAT AT ALL. AND AGAIN, 1 THINK OF COURSE FROM HK'S POINT OF VIEW, NONE OF OUR TRADE WILL BE AFFECTED BY THAT.
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