XN000022-1985-10-23 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1985

ID CARDS BEYOND 1997 POSSIBLE GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO ENSURE THAT IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED IN 1987 CAN LAST BEYOND 1997, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

+IF YOU GIVE US A LITTLE TIME TO DISCUSS THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS, YOU WILL FIND THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO BE VERY REASONABLE, AND I THINK THAT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE, + HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS AFTER TOURING WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT.

ASKED HOW THIS WAS POSSIBLE SINCE THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ALREADY LAND LEASES WHICH LASTED BEYOND 1997.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH WAS SO SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE LAND SALE A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE SAID.

+SO THINGS ARE POSSIBLE,

HE SAID, +ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GIVE

US A LITTLE TIME TO WORK THEM OUT. +

AS TO WHETHER THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD REACTED TO THIS PROPOSAL, SIR EDWARD SAID, +I'LL TELL YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT WHEN THEY DO.+

ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOCKED IN DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS+ WITH CHINA OVER HOW TO ISSUE IDENTITY CARDS THAT WOULD BE VALID BEYOND 1997, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD NOT DESCRIBE THEM AS +DELICATE+.

+WE ARE ENGAGED IN PRACTICAL DISCUSSIONS.

+AND I THINK THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF PUTTING THESE ARRANGEMENTS INTO EFFECT -- ALL THE EXPERIENCE ON THE JOINT DECLARATION SO FAR,

SHOWS IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND IN THE LAND COMMISSION THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE VERY PRACTICAL AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.+

AS FOR HOW ADVANCED THESE DISCUSSIONS WERE, SIR EDWARD SAID, +ALL I CAN SAY AT THE MOMENT IS THEY ARE IN PROGRESS.+

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO ISSUE NEW IDENTITY CARDS IN 1987, ONLY A FEW YEARS AFTER THE START OF THE CURRENT RENEWAL EXERCISE, THE GOVERNOR SAID, WE SHALL HAVE TO START RE-ISSUING CARDS QUITE SOON AFTER THAT ANYWAY, BECAUSE THE CARDS WHICH WE ISSUED SOME YEARS AGO WILL NEED TO BE RE-ISSUED IN A FEW YEARS' TIME.+

SAY

+50 WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONVENIENCE AND ECONOMY, YOU MIGHT

ASKED WHETHER HE CONSIDERED IT A +SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT+ IF IT WAS NECESSARY TO ISSUE ANOTHER IDENTITY CARD IN 1997 UNDER THE SAR GOVERNMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID, + THINK YOU ARE ABOUT 10 YEARS A HEAD OF THE GAME.+

/+BE A