XN000022-1984-01-27 — Page 2

NOTE TO EDITORS.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1984

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AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ARRIVING SUNDAY

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A MEDIA FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, MR BOB HAWKE, IN HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (JANUARY 29).

MR HAWKE AND HIS PARTY WILL BE TRAVELLING ON A SPECIAL ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT, ETA 6 PM.

PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 5 PM. AS THE PRESS POSITION WILL BE ON THE TARMAC AND QUITE FAR AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT, THEY ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG TELEPHOTO LENSES.

GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED LEADERS FOR TALKS ON HK'S FUTURE

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SIR RICHARD EVANS, BRITAIN'S NEW AMBASSADOR IN PEKING, AND MR ZHOU NAN, CHINA'S ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER, ARE BOTH HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LEADERS HEADING THE TWO COUNTRIES' DELEGATIONS TO THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, MADE THIS REMARK WHILE TALKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON UPON HIS RETURN FROM PEKING AFTER THE EIGHTH ROUND OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON HONG KONG.

+SO WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF IN DECEMBER AND TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

HE ADDED THAT, IN CONSEQUENCE, THE LATEST ROUND OF TALKS WAS +ANOTHER VERY USEFUL SESSION+.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT MR ZHOU NAN HOSTED A DINNER LAST NIGHT FOR THE DELEGATES.

+WE HAD A VERY PLEASANT DINNER. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS VERY COLD; BUT INSIDE, LET ME ASSURE YOU, IT WAS QUITE WARM, HE SAID.

MR YAO GUANG, THE PREVIOUS HEAD OF THE CHINESE DELEGATION TO THE TALKS, ALSO GAVE A DINNER RECEPTION FOR SIR RICHARD EARLIER IN THE WEEK, SIR EDWARD ADDED.

+THESE ARE, OF COURSE, OCCASIONS ON WHICH THERE CAN BE INFORMAL EXCHANGES OF VIEWS.

+OTHERWISE, INFORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO DELEGATIONS WILL CONTINUE,+ HE SAID.

/SIR EDWARD