XN000022-1990-03-29 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1990

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NATIONALITY PACKAGE AIMED AT INCREASING CONFIDENCE: GOVERNOR

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THE KEY ELEMENT OF THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE IS AIMED PRECISELY AT INCREASING CONFIDENCE, KEEPING PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AND GIVING PEOPLE THE SENSE OF ASSUREDNESS ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO SETTLE SOMEWHERE ELSE IF NECESSARY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING WELFARE AGENCIES IN CHUK YUEN, SIR DAVID SAID THE HOPE WAS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WOULD REMAIN IN HONG KONG AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE TERRITORY.

"1 HOPE THE PACKAGE WILL GO THROUGH PARLIAMENT, DESPITE OPPOSITION. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS OPPOSITION WITHIN PARLIAMENT, HE SAID.

"I HOPE THAT IT WILL GO THROUGH SUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT A SUCCESSFUL PACKAGE WILL HELP, THAT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG; AND THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE," SIR DAVID SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WOULD PROBABLY BE ANNOUNCED TO PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK, BEFORE PARLIAMENT GOES INTO RECESS FOR EASTER.

ASKED ABOUT THE VISIT TO HONG KONG NEXT MONTH BY THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, MR FRANCIS MAUDE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE MINISTER'S VISIT WAS TO KEEP HIMSELF UP-TO-DATE WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN HONG KONG.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS THAT THE MINISTER SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND PEOPLE HERE SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM, HE ADDED.

ASKED ABOUT RECENT PETITIONS BY CIVIL SERVANTS, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE FIREMEN'S HUNGER STRIKE HAD ENDED AND THAT MATTERS WERE NOW BACK TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE.

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"THAT IS THE WAY THESE MATTERS SHOULD BE SETTLED. THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE AN EXTREMELY GOOD REPUTATION AND I THINK WOULD ALL LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, HE SAID.

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SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS ALWAYS A PROBLEM WHEN THINGS WERE IN AN INFLATIONARY SITUATION WHERE THERE WERE WAGE DEMANDS.

"THE IMPORTANT THING IS IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO BE RESOLVED, THEY SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY NEGOTIATIONS AND NOT THROUGH ACTIVITIES WHICH DISRUPT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND INCONVENIENCE THE PUBLIC, " HE ADDED.

/ASKED IF