XN000022-1988-04-28 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1988

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GOVERNOR WELCOMES CONSULTATION ON BASIC LAW

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HE WELCOMED THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXTENSIVE EFFORT ΤΟ CONSULT AND GATHER OPINIONS FROM THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW, WHICH HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL'S TRAINING CENTRES IN KOWLOON BAY, SIR DAVID SAID:

"I HOPE THAT PEOPLE HERE WILL STUDY THE DOCUMENT VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT AFFECTS VER CLOSELY THEIR OWN LIVES AND THEIR OWN FUTURES, AND THAT THEY WILL PUT FORWARD THEIR IDEAS TO THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.

ITSELF.

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE LOOKING AT THE BASIC LAW

ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXPRESS OPINIONS ON THE DRAFT, SIR DAVID SAID THAT WOULD HAVE TO DEPEND ON ITS REVIEW OF THE BASIC LAW.

SIR DAVID ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ANY DEBATE ON THE DRAFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO BE DECIDED AMONG MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

THE

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR

DAVID FORD, WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT BASIC LAW BY REPORTERS AFTER HE LAUNCHED THE 1988 GREAT INVESTMENT RACE, A FUND-RAISING COMPETITION FOR THE COMMUNITY CHEST.

SIR DAVID WAS CONFIDENT THAT THERE WOULD BE A VERY WIDE-RANGING RESPONSE FROM HONG KONG PEOPLE.

ASKED WHETHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD ADD ITS OPINION TO IT, HE SAID THE BASIC LAW WAS A MATTER OF CHINA.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT, OF COURSE, TO ENSURE THAT THE BASIC LAW WAS IN LINE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION.

"IF THERE ARE POINTS WHICH WE WISH TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY DO SO." HE ADDED THAT THIS WOULD BE DONE THROUGH VARIOUS NORMAL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.

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