XN000022-1992-06-18 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1992

GOVERNOR STRESSES NEED FOR DISCUSSION ON 95 ELECTION

THE GOVERNOR, LORD WILSON SAID TODAY (THURSDAY THAT THERE MUST BE VERY DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON THE 1995 ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM OF CONTINUITY.

WAY

SPEAKING TO THE PRESS AFTER VISITING THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE WANT THE 95 ARRANGEMENTS TO WORK IN SUCH A THAT THEY REALLY DO GO THROUGH TO 1999 AS WE HAVE PROVISIONALLY AGREED.

"THAT MEANS DISCUSSION WITH CHINA ON ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE 95 ELECTIONS WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING AGREEMENT ON AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN SO THAT WE GET THAT CONTINUITY.

HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH 1995 SOUNDED A LONG WAY OFF THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

"I THINK WE NEED TO GET THOSE TALKS GOING WELL BEFORE THE END OF THE THIS YEAR," HE SAID.

ASKED ABOUT BARONESS DUNN'S SPEECH AT THE HOUSE OF LORDS YESTERDAY, LORD WILSON SAID HE THOUGHT LADY DUNN WAS MAKING TWO VERY IMPORTANT POINTS.

"SHE WAS SAYING THAT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE MUST BUILD UP A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA. WE MUST TRY то GET RID OF SUSPICION BECAUSE FIVE YEARS IS NOT VERY LONG BEFORE THE TRANSFER SOVEREIGNTY.

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"I THOUGHT THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH IT. SHE WAS ALSO SAYING THAT ON THINGS LIKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO TALK TO CHINA ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF IT.

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THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO WISH TO GET ON WITH THAT QUICKLY SO THAT THERE IS CERTAINTY ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS AND ONE CAN THEN GET ON WITH OTHER MATTERS, HE SAID.

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ASKED ABOUT THE VISIT TO BEIJING BY CRC MEMBERS, LORD WILSON SAID: "I BELIEVED THAT IT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA THAT PEOPLE HERE SHOULD HAVE CONTACT WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS IN BEIJING WHO DEAL WITH HONG KONG AFFAIRS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ALL DIFFERENT POLITICAL GROUPS HAVING THAT SORT OF CONTACT.

"I BELIEVE CONTACT WITH CHINA AND THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT AND BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT IN THESE LAST FIVE YEARS."

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