XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 45

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

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JOINT DECLARATION +WELL ON COURSE+

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THOMAS

THE POLITICAL WORK OF IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE IS WELL ON COURSE, THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN NEW YORK YESTERDAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING BEFORE THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, MR THOMAS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF BOTH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION.

+THE JLG HAS BECOME ACCEPTED AS A USEFUL FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION OF POLICIES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE BEYOND 1997. NEXT YEAR IT WILL BECOME PERMANENTLY QUARTERED IN HONG KONG. ITS ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN SOLID,+ HE SAID.

MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE BULK OF THE LAND COMMISSION'S POLICY WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IT TOO HAS MADE EXCELLENT PROGRESS IN ENSURING THAT LAND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MEET HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS,+ HE SAID.

THERE IS + I BELIEVE THESE YEARS ARE GOING VERY WELL. ENORMOUS OPTIMISM AND HONG KONG HAS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE,+ MR THOMAS SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THE IMPROVED FORTUNES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. + INVESTORS' CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG HAS STEADILY REVIVED AND THIS REVIVAL IS NOW REFLECTED IN THE BOOMING MARKETS AND IN THE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES.+

FOR ITS PART, MR THOMAS SAID, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE BY MAINTAINING ITS

THESE INCLUDED THE BUILDING AMBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS, MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE BUILDING OF THE THIRD UNIVERSITY.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MR THOMAS SAID THERE OBVIOUSLY WILL BE CHANGES, WITH A GREAT DEAL OF WORK REMAINING TO BE DONE TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE JOINT DECLARATION.

+THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT AND MAINTAINING THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. IT IS

IT IS INDEED VERY MUCH IN THE IR INTEREST TO DO SO, HE SAID.

FOR ITS PART, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN THOSE POLICIES WHICH HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN ENSURING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND IN GIVING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ONE OF THE HIGHEST LIVING STANDARD IN ASIA, MR THOMAS SAID.

/+WE WILL