XN000022-1983-09-29 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1983

GOVERNOR AND EXCO UNOFFICIALS GOING TO UK

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL GO TO LONDON NEXT WEEK AND AGAIN CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, MR RICHARD LUCE.

+THIS IS ALL PART OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG TO WHICH I KNOW THE PRIME MINISTER AND SENIOR MINISTERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ATTACH SUCH GREAT IMPORTANCE,+ HE SAID.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY SCHEME IN CITY ONE, SHA TIN, SIR EDWARD SAID HE WOULD BE GOING TO LONDON NEXT WEDNESDAY (OCTOBER 5) NIGHT AFTER HE HAS GIVEN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+AND I SHALL BE IN LONDON WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THE SIXTH, THE SEVENTH AND THE EIGHTH, HE SAID.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON THE RATE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THINGS HAVE BECOME A BIT MORE STABLE.

+AS I SAID ON SUNDAY, THE RATES WHICH WERE BEING QUOTED WERE QUITE UNREALISTIC AND DID NOT REFLECT THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REALITIES.

+1 WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE MESSAGES WHICH WE HAVE SENT OUT OVER THE WEEKEND, FOR PEOPLE TO BE CALM AND GET ON WITH THEIR BUSINESS OF THE DAY, HAVE BEEN HEEDED BY PEOPLE.

+ I THINK PEOPLE ARE VERY REALISTIC AND IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT REACTION, HE SAID.

ON THE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY SCHEME, SIR EDWARD SAID HE HAD LOOKED FORWARD FOR A LONG TIME TO COMING TO THE OPENING.

+ HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT IT IS AN EXAMPLE THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WHICH ARE OF GREAT INTEREST TO YOU, THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO ITS BEST TO GET ON WITH THE ORDINARY ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY AND TO IMPROVE FACILITIES WHERE IT CAN, HE SAID,

SIR PERCY TO JOIN GOVERNOR IN LONDON NEXT WEEK

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THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING, SIR PERCY CRADOCK SAID THIS AFTERNOON THAT HE WOULD JOIN THE GOVERNOR AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN LONDON NEXT WEEK FOR CONSULTATIONS.

HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT, ON HIS DEPARTURE FOR PEKING, THAT IT WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT HE SHOULD REMAIN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG.

/+I'VE FOUND .......