XN000022-1985-04-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRI 25, 1985

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ELECTIONS IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN HONG KONG'S PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.

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SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON SIR EDWARD SAID THE PRIME PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT WAS TO BRIEF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ON THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THE ELECTIONS.

+1 FOUND, AS I EXPECTED,

AS I EXPECTED, A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THIS, BOTH AMONG MINISTERS AND AMONG MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO ASKED ME QUITE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAY WE WERE GOING ABOUT IT, HE SAID.

GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS THREE-DAY TALKS IN LONDON, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD MET THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MR RICHARD LUCE, SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, AND A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO WERE INTERESTED PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.

SIR EDWARD SAID THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE SCORRI REPORT ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHICH CAME OUT LAST WEEK.

+1 MADE CLEAR THAT WE WELCOME ANY MEASURES WHICH CAN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

HERE.

+ AND I THINK IT WILL TAKE A CONCERTED AND COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT ON THE PART OF EVERYBODY CONCERNED THAT IS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND PARTI CULARLY THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT.

+THAT REPORT IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION BOTH HERE IN HONG KONG AND IN LONDON, WHERE IT WILL BE FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO REPLY TO PARLIAMENT,+ HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID HE ALSO HAD VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE ON THE DANGERS OF PROTECTIONISM WHICH SEEMED TO BE RISING,

+1 MADE VERY CLEAR OUR INTERESTS AS A MAJOR TRADING TERRITORY IN RESISTING THAT TREND TOWARDS PROTECTIONISM,+

THE GOVERNOR ADDED THAT HE ALSO DISCUSSED THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THE COMING INTO EFFECT OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT.

+THAT INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE SAID.

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