XN000022-1976-09-27 — Page 5

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1976

THREE MP'S DUE THIS WEEKEND ******

TWO LABOUR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT, MR. RAYMOND FLETCHER AND MR. PETER HARDY, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 2) FOR A ONE-WEEK VISIT AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

THEY WILL BE JOINED BY THE FORMER LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY, MR. JEREMY THORPE, WHO WILL ARRIVE HERE ON SUNDAY NIGHT, HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE.

DURING THEIR STAY, THE MPS WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AS WELL AS THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.

THEY WILL ALSO MEET MEMBERS OF A MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE, VISIT THE OI MAN ESTATE, A NIGHT MARKET, A FLATTED FACTORY AND TSUEN WAN WHERE THEY WILL SEE THE DEVELOPMENT THERE.

MR. FLETCHER, WHO IS ALSO A JOURNALIST, HOPES TO GET A BROAD PICTURE OF THE WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG ON WHICH HE IS LIKELY TO BASE AN ARTICLE FOR THE TIMES NEWSPAPER.

MR. HARDY, A TEACHER BY PROFESSION, HAS SPECIAL INTERESTS WHICH INCLUDE ENVIRONMENT, WILD LIFE AND ENERGY. HE HOPES TO GET AN INSIGHT INTO THE REASONS FOR HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND ALSO TO SEE HOW URBAN PROBLEMS ARE TACKLED.

MR. THORPE, WHO IS A BARRISTER OF THE INNER TEMPLE, HAS PREVIOUSLY PAID A PRIVATE VISIT TO HONG KONG.

THE TWO LABOUR MPS WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR HOME ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 9, WHILE MR. AND MRS. THORPE WILL DEPART THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THE MP'S ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 8 (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

MR. FLETCHER AND MR. HARDY WILL ARRIVE AT KAI TAK AIRPORT ON OCTOBER 2 BY FLIGHT BA 888 (E.T.A. 7.30 P.M. ). MR. AND MRS. THORPE WILL ARRIVE ON OCTOBER 3 BY FLIGHT CX 170 (E.T.A. 8.55 P.M.).

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