XN000022-1986-05-20 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1986

SIR EDWARD TO STAY ON AT LEAST UNTIL 1988

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) HE WOULD REMAIN AS GOVERNOR AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF 1988.

+SINCE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT IT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND IT'S JUST ABOUT MY FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW THAT I AM AUTHORISED TO TELL YOU THAT I EXPECT TO REMAIN AS GOVERNOR AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF 1988, + HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON.

+THAT WILL MEAN I WILL CERTAINLY BE HERE FOR THE ELECTIONS IN THAT YEAR.+

SIR EDWARD SAID DURING HIS FIVE DAYS IN LONDON, HE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS AND DISCUSSED WITH THEN THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG,

THESE INCLUDED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETING, VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, NATIONALITY AND A SERIES OF OTHER SUBJECTS.

ON THE NATIONALITY ISSUE, SIR EDWARD SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED AS OTHERS WERE, BY THE FURTHER ASSURANCE GIVEN BY LORD GLENARTHUR,

+ I THINK IN RESPONSE TO THE CONSISTENT AND STEADY REPRESENTATIONS FROM HONG KONG, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TOWARDS MEETING THE WISHES EXPRESSED BY LEGCO AND OTHERS,+ HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT TRADE MATTERS +WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG+,

HE SAID HE WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND TALKED TO OFFICIALS THERE ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH WERE ALREADY IN PROGRESS ON THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT.

HE ALSO TOLD THEM OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH HONG KONG ATTACHED TO FURTHER LIBERALISATION OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND TO PARTICULAR REGARD BEING GIVEN TO TERRITORIES SUCH AS HONG KONG WHICH HAVE OPEN MARKETS.

SIR EDWARD SAID HE ALSO WENT TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND TALKED TO OFFICIALS THERE ABOUT THE QUEEN'S VISIT. HE NOTED THAT PLANS CONCERNING THE VISIT WERE GOING WELL.

ASKED WHY HE HAD TO EXTEND HIS STAY IN LONDON, SIR EDWARD SAID IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS HE HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND THE FACT THAT A NUMBER OF MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS WERE RATHER TIED UP AT THE END OF LAST WEEK ON PARLIAMENTARY AND OTHER COMMITMENTS.

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/+WE COULIN'T