XN000022-1992-03-02 — Page 3

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MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1992

THE HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WERE SET OUT IN THE APPROPRIATION 1992 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE LAST FRIDAY.

BILL

DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH 25 AND 26, WHEN MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.

OFFICIALS WILL GIVE THEIR REPLIES ON APRIL 1.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE GIS WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 4) TO ENABLE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO START WORK EARLY ON THE BUDGET.

NEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE GIVEN ADVANCE COPIES OF THE BUDGET SPEECH AND ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AT NOON.

NEDIA REPRESENTATIVES MUST STAY IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL TO WORK ON THEIR COPIES AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE UNTIL AFTER THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS CONCLUDED HIS SPEECH.

CONTACTS OF ANY KIND WITH OUTSIDE, SUCH AS TELEPHONE OR COMPUTER LINKS, ARE PROHIBITED DURING THE CLOSED WORKING SESSION. ALSO, MOBILE TELEPHONES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE FINANCE BRANCH WILL BE ON HAND TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM FRON 12.30 PM. THEY WILL NOT GIVE INTERVIEWS AND THEY SHOULD NOT BR QUOTED.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL MEET THE MEDIA AT THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM AROUND 4 PM TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUDGET AFTER HIS DELIVERY OF THE SPEECH IN THE LEGCO.

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HONG KONG EAGER TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC TIES WITH ASIA PACIFIC REGION

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID HONG KONG WAS TO ENHANCE ITS ECONOMIC TIES WITH COUNTRIES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC

KEEN REGION.

SPEAKING AT THE PRE-CONFERENCE DINNER OF THE 1992 INTERNATIONAL SHIPPERS' CONFERENCE THIS (MONDAY) EVENING, MR MACLEOD SAID THE GOVERNMENT SAW REGIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE OPEN MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM OF WHICH HONG KONG WAS A STAUNCH

SUPPORTER.

/"INDEED, AS