XN000022-1987-02-20 — Page 5

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987

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ANNUAL REPORT ON HK PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND THE COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAD PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG 1985-86, AND THE REPORT IS BEING PUBLISHED IN THE FORM OF WHITE PAPER IN LONDON TODAY (FRIDAY).

+ HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AGREED IN 1985, DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES ON THE HONG KONG BILL, TO PRODUCE ANNUAL REPORTS ON HONG KONG AND TO LAY THEM BEFORE PARLIAMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERIES OF REPORTS IS TO KEEP PARLIAMENT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THIS IS THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. THE FIRST RECORDED EVENTS FROM THE INITIALLING OF THE DRAFT SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, IN SEPTEMBER 1984, TO THE END OF OCTOBER 1995. THE PRESENT REPORT COVERS THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 30, 1985 TO DECEMBER 31, 1986. IT IS HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION THAT EACH SUBSEQUENT REPORT SHOULD COVER A CALENDAR YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE REPORT CONTAINS A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE MAIN EVENTS IN HONG KONG DURING THIS 14-MONTH PERIOD.

IT COVERS THE VISIT TO THE TERRITORY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, THE PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS, LOCAL REACTIONS TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES PROPOSED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND SECURITY.

THE REPORT IS BEING PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN HONG KONG TODAY AND WILL BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 25.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE REPORT, AVAILABLE BILINGUALLY, FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23), AND FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE AND THE GIS PUBLISHING SUB-DIVISION, SECOND FLOOR, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, CENTRAL, FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

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