XN000022-1987-12-05 — Page 3

2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1987

"THE CHINESE SIDE GAVE ME A BRIEFING

ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON THEIR SIDE IN DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT AND REACTIONS TO IT BY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.

"I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE RECENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON OUR STOCK MARKETS AND THE ACTION WE WERE TAKING TO DEAL WITH THOSE MATTERS.'

ASKED WHETHER HE WAS THINKING OF INVITING CHINESE OFFICIALS TO VISIT HONG KONG, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT CHINESE SENIOR OFFICIALS AND LEADERS DEALING WITH HONG KONG AFFAIRS WOULD ALWAYS BE WELCOME TO COME TO HONG KONG.

HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THEY HONG KONG FOR THEMSELVES, "JUST AS IN THE SAME WAY I FIND TO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEM IN PEKING",

THE GOVERNOR ADDED GUANGDONG TO COME HERE.

COULD SEE IT HELPFUL

THAT HE HAD INVITED THE GOVERNOR OF

"I SAID TO THE MAYOR OF SHANGHAI THAT I WILL WELCOME HIM HERE IF HE IS EVER FREE TO COME. I SAID TO SENIOR OFFICIALS IN PEKING THAT THEY TOO WILL BE WELCOME TO COME HERE IF THEY WISH TO COME.

"I HAVEN'T ARRANGED

A GENERAL WELCOME.

1

ANY PARTICULAR PLANS OR DATES.

IT'S

SIR DAVID WAS MET ON HIS ARRIVAL BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD; THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG; THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN; AND VICE-DIRECTOR OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY, MR QIAO ZHONGHUAI.

MAJOR PROJECTS EPITOMISE BELIEF IN FUTURE: JACOBS

THAT

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) MAJOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING EPITOMISED PEOPLE'S BELIEF IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A TOUR OF THE TUNNEL WORKS, MR JACOBS ALSO SAID THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG WAS STRONG DESPITE THE WEAKNESS OF THE U.S. DOLLAR.

rt

"THE SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED FUNDAMENTALLY SINCE I GAVE MID-YEAR REVIEW, HE SAID.

MY

/MR JACOBS