XN000022-1990-10-31 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990

UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA IS IMPORTANT

* *

ON

THE

CHINA,

NOT

IN

THE

THE

COUNCIL THERE IS WIDE CONSENSUS IN THE LEGISLATIVE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING AN UNDERSTANDING ON HONG KONG AND LEAST

BETWEEN CIVIL SERVANTS, THROUGH GREATER CONTACTS COMMERCIAL FIELD, AND BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND CHINA, CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

CONCLUSION

SPEAKING AT THE

RESUMED DEBATE OF THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED THAT THIS COULD BE A TWO-WAY ONE.

ON

THE

PROCESS

"AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A STRONG FEELING THAT AN INCREASING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND A BETTER DIALOGUE WITH CHINA SHOULD NOT BE ARE SEEN AS GIVING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT A VETO OVER DECISIONS WHICH

KONG SAR PROPERLY FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE FUTURE HONG GOVERNMENT TO TAKE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

++

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THESE VIEWS COULD BE WELL APPLIED TO THE SPECIFIC CASE OF THE NEW PORT AND AIRPORT.

"WE WOULD LIKE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WHAT WE ARE PLANNING AND WOULD WELCOME EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT THEM FOR PROJECTS WHICH ARE TO THE LONG TERM BENEFIT OF HONG KONG.

"WE

HAVE

MADE IT

CLEAR THAT WE ARE

WITH

FROM

THEM COURSE

THAT

THESE

то КЕЕР WILLING

NOT OF ARE INFORMED AS OUR PLANS DEVELOP, EVEN THOUGH WE SEEKING

FROM FORMAL APPROVAL

INTEND THEM NOR DO WE DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD PLACE ANY BURDEN ON THE CHINESE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

ז*

HELD SAID

THE CHINESE EXPERT TEAM WHICH RECENTLY VISITED HONG KONG CANDID AND CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS WITH US IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, SIR DAVID ADDING THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOUND THE TALKS USEFUL,

FINANCIAL

THAT

WE HOPE

"THE CHINESE TEAM WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE POSITION WHICH THE SAR GOVERNMENT WILL INHERIT IN 1997. THE INFORMATION WHICH WE HAVE GIVEN THEM WILL REASSURE THEM.

WITH ONLY

THE

BUT

"OUR

IS TO PROVIDE THE SAR IN 1997 NOT AIM INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY FOR ITS CONTINUED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALSO WITH STRONG FINANCES.

WE

LOOK

FORWARD

TO

SIR DAVID SAID.

'WE

CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO BOTH. ARE FURTHER TALKS ON THE MATTER WITH THE CHINESE SIDE,

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