XN000022-1986-05-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1986

GOVERNOR TO SPREAD FREE TRADE MESSAGE

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE TRADE DURING HIS TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES IN JULY.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS TODAY (FRIDAY) AFTER OPENING THE HONG KONG STANDARDS AND TESTING CENTRE AT THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, HE SAID PROTECTIONISM ALWAYS WORRIED HIM.

+ IF PROTECTIONISM SPREADS, IT WOULD AFFECT NOT ONLY HONG KONG, BUT THE REST OF THE WORLD. THE WORLD OUGHT TO WANT FREER AND UNFETTERED TRADE, AND SO ANYTHING THAT GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WE SPEAK AGAINST AS WELL AS WE CAN.+

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE DAYA BAY CONSULTANCY REPORT, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID QUITE CLEARLY WHEN HE SPOKE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THAT THE ONE WAY TO ALLAY PEOPLE'S FEARS WAS TO BE AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE ON THESE ISSUES, +AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND DO,

+WE HAVEN'T GOT THE REPORT YET, WE DON'T KNOW IN WHAT FORM IT'S GOING TO COME, BUT IF THERE'S SECRECY THEN PEOPLE GET ANXIOUS AND THAT'S WHY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SPOKE AS HE DID THE OTHER DAY.+

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE DID NOT EXPECT TO MEET THE PRIME MINISTER DURING HIS TRIP TO LONDON NEXT WEEK.

+THIS IS ONE OF THE REGULAR VISITS WHERE I SHALL BE TALKING MAINLY TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.

+BUT I WILL BE SEEING MINISTERS, INCLUDING MR RENTON AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE THERE AND THEN I SHALL ALSO GO ACROSS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE TO TALK TO SOME SENIOR OFFICIALS ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR TRADE, AND PARTICULARLY THE MULTI-FI BRE ARRANGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.+

ASKED WHETHER HIS TRIP HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PARLIAMENTART DEBATE ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE, SIR EDWARD DESCRIBED THE TIMING AS A COINCIDENCE.

+ FIXED THE TIME OF MY VISIT BEFORE THEY ANNOUNCED THE DATE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE, SO THAT REALLY IS A COINCIDENCE. BUT I WILL OF COURSE BE TAKING AN INTEREST WHILE I AM THERE IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEBATE.+

ON HIS MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS, THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WAS NOTHING VERY NEW ABOUT THESE MEETINGS.

+ MEET THEM ALL QUITE REGULARLY AS YOU KNOW. I VISIT THE DISTRICTS AND THEN I MEET THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS. BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN TO SEE THE URBAN COUNCIL AS A BODY FOR A WHILE, SIR EDWARD SAID.

/+SO I ....