XN000022-1989-06-22 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1989

GOVERNOR STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF BASIC LAW FORMULATION

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NOW

THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD NOT NEGLECT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE BASIC LAW AS GOOD AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE IT WILL STILL BE THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR THE TERRITORY IN THE FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

DISTRICT,

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HIS VISIT TO THE ISLANDS THE GOVERNOR SAID IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR MOST PEOPLE то CONCENTRATE ON THE BASIC LAW BECAUSE IT WAS A COMPLICATED AND LONG DOCUMENT.

"THEY SEE IT AS SOMETHING WHICH IS HAPPENING EIGHT YEARS IN THE FUTURE, SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A MINORITY INTEREST IN HONG KONG," SIR DAVID SAID.

"WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT FOR THAT MINORITY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STUDYING IT THOROUGHLY, IT IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT," HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID WHEN ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED RECENTLY AND THE TRAGEDIES OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAD GONE INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS, THE BASIC LAW WOULD STILL BE THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR HONG KONG.

ON

SIR DAVID REITERATED THAT SINCE THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW HAD BEEN DELAYED, IT WOULD SZEM THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRAFTING WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE IDEA OF EXTENDING THE PROCESS.

WOULD

"IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DO SO BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSULTED AND TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS. HE SAID.

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THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR HONG KONG, A SENSE OF UNITY, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT, WAS BEING ACHIEVED.

SIR DAVID SAID THAT WHILE THERE MIGHT BE DISAGREEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL IDEAS, HE HOPED THAT ON LARGER QUESTIONS THE COMMUNITY WOULD TRY, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT, TO BE UNITED AND TO FORM A COMMON VIEW.

REPLYING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE ARE GOING ON PRESSING OUR POINT OF VIEW AND I HOPE TO MAKE PROGRESS WITH THAT. AT THE VERY LEAST, AND TO START WITH, I HOPE TO MAKE PROGRESS WITH GETTING A GÊNEROUS, A VERY GENEROUS RESPONSE FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

"WHAT I'VE BEEN PRESSING FOR IS SOMETHING WHICH WOULD COVER ALL BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS HERE.'

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