XN000022-1991-08-02 — Page 2

1991

PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT CHINA AND HONG KONG

AT THE

SEPTEMBER 1991 ACCOMPANIED

INVITATION OF CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG, THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT HON JOHN MAJOR MP, WILL VISIT CHINA FROM 2-4 BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, THE RT HON DOUGLAS HURD MP. DURING HIS VISIT THE PRIME MINISTER AND PREMIER LI PENG WILL FORMALLY SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA RELATING ΤΟ THE NEW AIRPORT IN HONG KONG, AND DISCUSS OTHER MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST.

THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO LOOKS FORWARD ΤΟ PAYING HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG ON 4-5 SEPTEMBER. HE WILL HOLD TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND MEET OTHER LEADING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PM'S VISIT TO HK WELCOMED

* * * * *

THE VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, MR JOHN MAJOR, ΤΟ HONG KONG WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO SEE THE PLACE AND MEET THE PEOPLE HERE, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE OPENING OF THE METRO BROADCAST, SIR DAVID SAID: "WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT MR MAJOR IS GOING TO CHINA.

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'HE IS GOING TO SIGN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG. IT WILL ALSO GIVE US THE CHANCE TO SEE MR MAJOR IN HONG KONG.

"HE WILL BE HERE FOR ABOUT 36 HOURS AT THE END AND OBVIOUSLY TO HAVE A CHANCE FOR HIM TO SEE HONG KONG PEOPLE HERE IS VERY MUCH TO BE WELCOME.

OF HIS VISIT AND TO MEET

SIR DAVID SAID DETAILS OF MR MAJOR'S VISIT WOULD OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BE

ANNOUNCED

COMMERCE

ASKED ABOUT THE RESCUE BID FOR THE BANK OF CREDIT AND HONG KONG LIMITED (BBC), SIR DAVID SAID: "I THINK ONE SHOULD NOT BE OVER OPTIMISTIC BUT THERE ARE SOME OFFERS WHICH ARE AROUND.

"I

AND OF COURSE IF THE LIQUIDATOR CAN BE SATISFIED THAT THERE IS. A GENUINE, GOOD BID FOR BCC WHICH PROVIDES ALL THE NECESSARY SAFEGUARD AND GUARANTEE, I AM SURE HE WILL BE TAKING A GOOD LOOK AT

IT.

WELCOME

"CLEARLY, IF THERE WERE SUCH A BID, THAT WOULD BE VERY BOTH FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW AND OBVIOUSLY FROM THE DEPOSITORS TOO."

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