XN000022-1989-09-18 — Page 3

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1989

WHO HAD

MR MAUDE SAID HE FELT A SADNESS TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE LEFT VIETNAM, IN THE MISTAKEN BELIEF THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT FUTURE OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRY, TO THE ALMOST COMPLETE CERTAINTY FOR NEARLY ALL OF THEM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RETURN.

THE MINISTER ALSO VISITED THE TUEN MUN CLOSED CAMP AND HELICOPTER FLEW OVER THE SOKO ISLANDS. SHEK KONG AND SHA TIN DURING A TOUR.

MR MAUDE WAS ACCOMPANIED THIS MORNING BY THE SECRETARY FOR KENNETH SECURITY. MR GROFFREY BARNES. AND THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS. MR KWOK.

LEGAL SYSTEM PROVISIONS

PROVISIONS THE

'CORNERSTONE OF GUARANTEES' ON FUTURE

ABOUT

THE LEGAL SYSTEM ARE

AMONG THE MOST THEY IMPORTANT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF GUARANTEES THAT THE PRESENT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE AFTER 1997. THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

CONFERENCE,

SIR

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE 11TH LAWASIA DAVID SAID THE PROVISIONS PROVIDED THE BASIC FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH WE

WORKING WERE ALL

TO ENSURE THAT OUR FREE ENTERPRISE ECONOMY COULD CONTINUE TO FLOURISH.

IN HONG

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"THAT FREE ENTERPRISE ECONOMY MEANS THAT BUSINESSMEN KONG ARE FREE TO CONDUCT THEIR AFFAIRS. AS THEY LIKE. WITHIN THE LAW, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

"WE BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT THIS HAD BEEN AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN HONG KONG'S SUCCESS. HE ADDED.

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SIR DAVID SAID WHILE THERE WERE MANY FACTORS THAT HAD

TO CONTRIBUTED

CREATING THE HONG KONG WE KNEW TODAY, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT WHOSE IMPORTANCE

RECOGNISED BECOMING WIDELY WAS THE EXISTENCE OF AN EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE LEGAL SYSTEM.

WAS

"THE CONTINUATION BEYOND 1997 OF THE PRESENT LEGAL SYSTEM IS

SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. GUARANTEED BY THE 1984

THIS IS A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT," THE GOVERNOR SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION CONTAINED SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LAWS PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE IN HONG KONG.

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