XN000022-1988-12-19 — Page 3

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1988

REFERRING TO THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, MR WIGGHAM

SALD MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH SIDE OF THE GROUP HAD COME TO RESPECT THE CHINESE SIDE FOR THEIR CONSCIENTIOUSNESS AND BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH, AND HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE CARE AND SENSE OF PURPOSE WITH Will Cil THEY HAD CONSIDERED ALL THE MATTERS ON THE AGENDA.

SO

HE PUT EMPHASIS ON THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS FAR, ADDING THAT HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEPENDED LARGELY ON ITS ABILITY TO TRADE FREELY AND INDEPENDENTLY.

MR WIGGHAM SAID AGREEMENTS REACHED BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WERE OF CONSIDERABLE PRACTICAL

SIGNIFICANCE.

THIS WAS SO INDIVIDUALLY BUT, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AGREEMENTS COLLECTIVELY PLACED HONG KONG FIRMLY IN ITS PROPER

INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT.

THEY PROVIDED VISIBLE PROOF THAT CONCRETE STEPS WERE BEING TAKEN TOWARDS FULFILLING PROMISES MADE IN 1984.

IN ADDITION, THE AGREEMENTS SERVED ΤΟ DEMONSTRATE THAT HONG KONG WOULD MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING ROLE AS A THRIVING INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE.

TURNING TO THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, MR WIGGUAM SAID HE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY HOW OPEN THAT PROCESS HAD BEEN, AND HOW RECEPTIVE THE CHINESE HAD SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE.

"THIS FIRST CONSULTATION EXERCISF HAS SHOWN THAT THE DRAFTING AND CONSULTATION PROCESSES ARE NOT PERFUNCTORY,

(1 HE SAID.

T

THOUGH OF COURSE

"PUBLIC OPINION IS BEING TAKEN ACCOUNT OF IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO MEET EVERYONE'S WISHES."

HE HOPED THAT THE PUBLICATION OF THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE BASTI LAW, DUE EARLY NEXT YEAR, WOULD FURTHER ENHANCE THE CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS IN THE DETERMINATION OF ALL CONCERNED TO PRODUCE THE BEST POSSIBLE VERSION OF THE BASIC LAW.

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