XN000022-1984-10-01 — Page 2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1984

DEADLINE FOR VIEWS - NOVEMBER 15

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE DATE FOR THE FINAL SUBMISSION OF VIEWS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE ON THE WHITE PAPER WOULD BE NOVEMBER 15. IN SELECTING THIS DATE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ACCOUNT OF THE TIME REQUIRED TO CONSIDER THE WHITE PAPER, THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE TO COMPLETE ITS REPORT AND THE UK PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE. THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD EXPRESS THE IR VIEWS ON THE AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE THEY ARE FREE TO COMMENT ON ANY PARTICULAR ASPECT OF IT. WHILE THERE IS NO REALISTIC POSSIBILITY OF AMENDING THE TEXT AND THE AGREEMENT MUST BE TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON RECORD. THEY COULD THEN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PARLIAMENT COMES TO DEBATE THE WHITE PAPER. THEY WOULD ALSO BE A USEFUL SOURCE OF REFERENCE IN FUTURE CONSULTATIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.

GOVERNOR ATTENDS NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION

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SIR

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR, EDWARD YOUDE, AT THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION HELD AT WORLD TRADE CENTRE THIS EVENING:

+THANK YOU MR XU.

+I SHOULD LIKE FIRST TO OFFER YOU MY WARM CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: AND TO WISH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

+ I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENDORSE YOUR REMARKS ON THE SINO- BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION INITIALLED IN PEKING LAST WEEK. AS THE PREAMBLE INDICATES IT WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND TO STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA ON A NEW BASIS.

+ I SHOULD NOW LIKE TO PROPOSE A TOAST

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA;

TO YOUR HEALTH, MR DIRECTOR, THE HEALTH OF MRS XU AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES.+

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