XN000022-1986-03-21 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1986

+FIRST-HAND LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTS IN PEARL RIVER AREA+

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HIS TRIP TO THE PEARL RIVER AREA IN CHINA WAS TO SEE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS ROADS AND BRIDGES WHICH ALL HAD A BEARING ON TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATIV COUNCIL BUILDING BEFORE ATTENDING A LUNCHEON PARTY WITH UMELCO MEMBERS, SIR DAVID SAID, + ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE THINGS FOR MYSELF SO I AM OVER TO GET FIRST-HAND IMPRESSIONS.+

HE SAID IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR SINCE HE LAST VISITED SHENZHEN AND + IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE COMING ON+.

ASKED WHETHER THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS, SIR DAVID SAID HIS OBJECTIVE WAS TO GO OVER TO HAVE A LOOK AT ROADS, BRIDGES AND DRAINS.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEBATE ON NATIONALITY ORDER NOT GOING TO BE HELD BEFORE EASTER, HE SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS GIVING THE MATTER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.

+ I HAVE NOTHING REALLY TO ADD TO THE STATEMENT WHICH I MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE ADDED.

WHEN ASKED FOR HIS REACTION TO SOME COUNCILLORS' DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS STATEMENT IN THE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD NOTHING MORE TO SAY AND THE MATTER WAS NOW WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID TOLD REPORTERS AT THE HONG KONG-MACAU FERRY TERMINAL BEFORE LEAVING THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN ROADS AND BRIDGES BECAUSE THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES IN HONG KONG, SUCH AS CROSS-BORDER BRIDGES AND THE CONTAINER PORT AND THINGS LIKE THE DOUBLE-TRACKING OF THE RAILWAY,

+ALL THESE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG AND I FELT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD KNOW THE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED, HE SAID.

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