WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994

38

JLG STILL HAS FORMIDABLE VOLUME OF WORK

JOINT

HON

THE VOLUME OF WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE, IN A FORMIDABLE LIAISON GROUP IN THE 1,000 DAYS BEFORE 1997, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPRESS ON OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES URGENCY OF THE TASK AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE FULLY WITH CHINA TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK,' HE SAID.

MR PATTEN SAID THE NEW BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, SIR LEONARD BRITISH APPLEYARD, HAD CARRIED WITH HIM JUST SUCH A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT WHEN HE TOOK UP HIS POST IN PEKING LAST MONTH.

THE THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR DOUGLAS HURD, HAD ALSO STRESSED

OF FINDING NEW WAYS TO GIVE IMPETUS TO THE WORK OF THE IMPORTANCE JOINT LIAISON GROUP DURING HIS MEETING WITH CHINA'S VICE-PREMIER, QIAN QICHEN, IN NEW YORK LAST WEEK.

H

WE HAVE

EXPLORE FURTHER

MR

то IN WHICH EXPERTISE ON

INDICATED TO THE CHINESE SIDE OUR WILLINGNESS WITH THEM WHETHER THERE ARE INFORMAL WAYS CAN BE ACHIEVED, PERHAPS BY EXPANDING THE POOL OF WHICH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP CAN DRAW.

THIS

"MEMBERS OF THE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE FOR EXAMPLE MAY BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROCESS. WE WOULD WELCOME THAT.

"WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT FAILURE TO SETTLE THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES BEFORE

HONG 1997 WILL COMPROMISE

AND KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY EXACTLY WHAT PROSPERITY. THIS IS

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED TO PREVENT, HE SAID.

"

MR PATTEN SAID THERE WAS PRECIOUS LITTLE TO BE SAID FOR WASTING TO BLAME AND BREATH ON PUBLIC RECRIMINATION ABOUT WHO WAS MOST FOR THE SNAIL'S PACE OF JOINT LIAISON GROUP WORK.

TIME

IN

THE

WHICH JOINT LIAISON

"WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS HONG KONG'S FUTURE. AND IT IS THAT IS THREATENED BY THE SLUGGISH GROUP.

TH

PROGRESS MADE

IS IT

FAILURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO WILL PAY FOR A COMPLETE THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP'S AGENDA BY 1997, HE SAID.

TO

"TO LEAVE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HONG KONG'S LAWS, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT AIR RIGHTS OF RESIDENCE AND ABOUT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS WILL DO NOTHING TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE KONG'S FUTURE.

RETURN

IN HONG

"IF HONG

KONG IS TO GET OFF TO THE BEST POSSIBLE START ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO

CHINA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE MUST REMOVE UNCERTAINTIES.

**

/39

AS

A

FULL THESE

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