XN000022-1988-05-03 — Page 2

CS LEAVES FOR PEKING

TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1988

THIS

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, LEFT

(TUESDAY) MORNING FOR PEKING WHERE FIE WOULD HOLD MEETINGS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTERESTS.

SIR

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE, DAVID SAID THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT TO PEKING WAS TO CONTINUE THE REGULAR SERIES OF CONTACTS BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD ALSO BE GOING TO SICHUAN BECAUSE IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROVINCE OF CHINA.

"THERE ARE SOME JOINT-VENTURE PROJECTS BETWEEN HONG KONG COMPANIES AND SICHUAN. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE PLACE, HE ADDED.

NOTING THAT HIS VISIT WAS NOT GEARED TO COINCIDE WITH THE PUBLICATION OF THE BASIC LAW, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID

NO DOUBT THE SUBJECT WOULD COME UP IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

THIS IS SIR DAVID'S FIRST TRIP TO PEKING AS CHIEF SECRETARY. HE IS ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR DICK CLIFT.

SIR DAVID IS SCHEDULED ΤΟ RETURN TO HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (MAY 8},

BUDGET DEBATE TO RESUME IN LEGCO

COUNCIL MEETING

BILL

EIGHT OFFICIALS WILL SPEAK IN THE LEGISLATIVE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY WHEN DEBATE RESUMES ON THE APPROPRIATION

1988.

THE SECRETARY

AND WELFARE, EDUCATION AND FOR DISTRICT

ADMINISTRATIVE

SPEAKING FIRST WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS; FOLLOWED BY THE SECRETARY FOR MANPOWER, THE FION RON BRIDGE; ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO: THE SECRETARY FOR SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO; THE SECRETARY FOR STCURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES; THE SECRETARY HON MICHAEL LEUNG; AND THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS GRAHAN BARNES.

THE

FOR TRANSPORT, AND WORKS, THE HON

THE FINANCIAL