XN000022-1986-09-10 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1986

PM MEETS GOVERNOR EXCO MEMBERS

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

THE PRIME MINISTER HAD A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG. THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FCO WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR TIM RENTON, WAS ALSO PRESENT,

THE MEETING REVIEWED DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE TERRITORY IN DECEMBER 1984 AND THE RATIFICATION IN MAY 1985 OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. THE PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSED APPRECIATION OF THE CONTINUING CLOSE CONSULTATION BETWEEN MINISTERS AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, AND OF THE VALUABLE ROLE PLAYED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IN GIVING ADVICE AND IN REFLECTING THE VIEWS AND INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

THE MEETING EXPRESSED PLEASURE AT THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION OVER THE 15 MONTHS SINCE IT CAME INTO EFFECT. THEY NOTED WITH PARTICULAR SATISFACTION THE POSITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, WHICH HAS NOW HELD FOUR MEETINGS, AND OF THE LAND COMMISSION, WHICH HAS NOW MET ON TEN OCCASIONS.

THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL STRESSED TO THE PRIME MINISTER THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN 1987. THE PRIME MINISTER REAFFIRMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE 1987 REVIE, AND CONFIRMED THAT FULL ACCOUNT WOULD BE TAKEN OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHEN DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM THE REVIEW.

THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL CONVEYED TO THE PRIME MINISTER THE CONCERN EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG OVER SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY PROJECT. THE PRIME MINISTER ASSURED THEM THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AND HAD STRESSED THESE CONCERNS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN THE LIGHT OF ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED, IT WAS CONFIDENT THAT EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANT WOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

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