XN000022-1985-07-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1985

THE FOLLOWING PRESS COMMUNIQUE WAS ISSUED BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AT 4 PM LONDON TIME TODAY (THURSDAY):

GATT, MFA TOP LIST AT JLG TALKS

***

+THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS FIRST MEETING IN LONDON FROM JULY 22-25, 1985.

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE.

THE TWO SIDES DISCUSSED AND ESTABLISHED WORKING PROCEDURES FOR THE GROUP.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF ANNEX II TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE GROUP HELD A WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSION ON HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS. AMONG OTHER THINGS THEY DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF HOW HONG KONG SHOULD CONTINUE, AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE GATT MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENTS, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE GROUP EXCHANGED IDEAS ON THE WORKING PROCEDURES FOR EXAMINING THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO HONG KONG.

THE GROUP ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE ROLE OF THE GATT AND MFA IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN ITS EXTERNAL TRADE ACTIVITIES. BOTH SIDES EXPRESSED THE IR WISH TO COOPERATE CLOSELY TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ABOVE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE GROUP WILL CONTINUE ITS WORK ON THESE SUBJECTS.

THE GROUP DECIDED THAT THE NEXT MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN BEIJING FROM NOVEMBER 26 TO 29, 1985.+

ROAD WORKS ARE FOR LONG-TERM BENEFIT

*****

- SIR DAVID

EXISTING AND FUTURE WORKS ON HONG KONG'S ROAD SYSTEM UNDERLINED THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP THE WHEELS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TURNING SO AS TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT AND STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

+AND THEY ARE BUILT FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.

/OPENING THE