XN000022-1987-02-20 — Page 3

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987

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SUFFICIENT TIME TO BRING IN ANY CHANGES

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THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE 1987 REVIEW AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR WOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO BRING IN ANY CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED IN TIME FOR THE 1988 SESSION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR FORD WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE OPENING OF THE SHA TIN CENTRAL LIBRARY.

ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD SHELVED PLANS TO SET UP AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL CONSIDERING HOW PUBLIC OPINIONS MIGHT BE COLLECTED AND ASSESSED.

IT WAS HOPED THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THIS WOULD BE MADE IN ONE MONTH'S TIME, HE SAID.

ON THE QUESTION WHETHER CHINA WAS AGAINST DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997, MR FORD SAID IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO SPECULATE ON WHAT PEOPLE'S VIEWS MIGHT BE.

+AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, I THINK THE ANSWER IS NOT TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHAT SPECULATION THERE IS ABOUT, SIMPLY TO GIVE THE VIEWS WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR CONSULTATION TO GIVE YOUR VIEWS, THE PUBLIC TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS FREELY, HE SAID.

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+ DON'T THINK ANY PURPOSE IS SERVED BY TRYING TO, AT THIS STAGE, TRYING TO SPECULATE ABOUT WHAT THE POSITION MIGHT BE. AFTER ALL, WE HAVEN'T YET ISSUED THE GREEN PAPER, MR FORD ADDED.

ASKED WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD BE AFFECTED BY TRADE PROTECTIONISM WITH THE APPROACH OF 1997, MR FORD SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HONG KONG CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TO FACE DURING 1987.

+WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR STRONG TRADING POSITION, AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US TO DO ALL WE CAN TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE AGAINST ANY PROCESS TOWARDS TRADE PROTECTIONISM IN 1987, + HE SA ID.

ASKED ABOUT PLANS FOR A NEW BRANCH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, MR FORD SAID, +WE HAVE YET TO COME TO A DECISION ON THAT. I DARESAY IT WILL TAKE US A COUPLE OF MONTHS.+

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