XN000022-1991-05-10 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1991

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CONTINUITY THE HALLMARK OF GOVT POLICIES FOR TRANSITION

THE CHALLENGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IS TO MANAGE THE POLITICS OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 WHILE MAINTAINING ECONOMIC MOMENTUM AND RETAINING HONG KONG'S ATTRACTIONS AS SERVICE CENTRE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON SAID IN MELBOURNE

A TODAY (FRIDAY).

"THE

OF

HALLMARK OF OUR POLICIES FOR THE TRANSITION IS THEREFORE CONTINUITY: CONTINUITY OF POLICIES, OF INSTITUTIONS, OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC INVESTMENT, AND OF PURPOSE, SIR DAVID SAID.

TT

THE GOVERNOR WAS ADDRESSING THE COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA IN WHICH HE OUTLINED THE CHALLENGES WHICH FACED HONG KONG BOTH POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY IN THE LAST DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

HE SAID ONE POINT WHICH HE HAD FOUND ON HIS TRAVELS ΤΟ BE POORLY UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT, WHETHER PEOPLE LIKED THE 1997 ARRANGEMENT OR NOT, THERE WAS NO OTHER PRACTICAL SOLUTION FOR HONG KONG.

"THE EXPIRY THAT YEAR OF THE LEASE WHICH COVERS ALMOST THE ENTIRE TERRITORY PUTS A DEFINITE END TO BRITISH RULE. THE REMARKABLE IDEA OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS', PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE, IS NOT JUST A CATCH-PHRASE.

"IT IS A POLITICALLY PRAGMATIC WAY OF ACHIEVING CHINA'S LONG DESIRED OBJECTIVE ON REUNIFICATION, WHILE PRESERVING HONG KONG AS AN ECONOMIC SUCCESS. FACING THIS REALITY, AND THIS CHALLENGE, IT IS OUR TASK TO GIVE IT THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING, HE SAID.

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TURNING TO ECONOMIC CHALLENGE, THE GOVERNOR SAID IF HONG KONG WAS ΤΟ MANAGE THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS IT MUST, ABOVE ALL ELSE, REMAINED ECONOMICALLY STRONG.

"THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT NOW FOR CHINA AS IT IS FOR HONG KONG. HONG KONG HAS BECOME A KEY ELEMENT IN THE GROWTH OF MUCH OF SOUTHERN CHINA, SIR DAVID ADDED.

HE

"

SAID WHILE ATTENTION TENDED TO BE FOCUSSED ON THE CURRENT TALKS OVER THE AIRPORT PLANS, IT WAS AS WELL TO REMEMBER THAT HONG KONG'S PHYSICAL AS WELL AS POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH CHINA HAD IMPROVED OUT OF ALL RECOGNITION OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

"A KEY FACTOR IN THIS HAS BEEN CHINA'S OWN DRIVE FOR MODERNISATION AND ITS MORE OPEN ATTITUDE TO TRADE AND INVESTMENT, HE

SAID.

ON

PRACTICAL DAILY MATTERS, SIR DAVID SAID RELATIONS NORMAL AS ACROSS ANY BORDER IN EUROPE.

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WERE AS

WHAT

"BORDER LIAISON ON POLICE AND CUSTOMS IS CLOSE AND CO-

OPERATIVE.

IS FOR THE BUSINESSMAN AND POTENTIAL INVESTOR THIS MATTERS, HE SAID.

...

/SIR DAVID

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