XN000022-1983-06-24 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1993

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MRS THATCHER KEEN TO KNOW HK PEOPLE'S VIEWS

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THE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, IS KEEN TO KNOW THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND SHE CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM NOT ONLY FROM HIM BUT ALSO VERY DIRECTLY FROM THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHINESE YMCA NEW TERRITORIES CENTRE IN KWAI CHUNG. SIR EDWARD SAID THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT TO LONDON, ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNOFFICIAL EXCO MEMBERS, WAS FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

+ AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE NEW MINISTERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA TO MEET THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

+SO WE ARE ALL GOING IN THE WEEKEND TO SEE THEM ON JULY 4 AND 5 AND WE EXPECT TO CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, AND ON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND ON MR LUCE, HE SAID.

ASKED WHAT SORT OF CONSULTATION THE VISIT WOULD INVOLVE, SIR EDWARD SAID IT WOULD BE ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE VIEWS OF THE UNOFFICIAL EXCO MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY THINK THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON WHETHER TALKS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE WOULD NOW RESUME SINCE BOTH THE UK ELECTION AND THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS IN CHINA WERE OVER, THE GOVERNOR SAID TALKS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE HAD NOT STOPPED,

ASKED WHETHER THESE WERE TALKS FOR THE TALKS OR GENUINE TALKS+, THE GOVERNOR SAID +THEY ARE GENUINE TALKS. +

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON WHETHER HE WOULD SET UP A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL, SIR EDWARD SAID WHEN YOU HAVE SITUATIONS OF THAT KIND, THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT IS TO PURSUE IT THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESSES OF THE LAW,+

SIR EDWARD HAD EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHINESE YMCA NEW TERRITORIES CENTRE AT KWAI HOP STREET IN KWAI CHUNG.

IN HIS