XN000022-1992-08-30 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1992

HK HAS RECORD FOR FAIR ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR

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FOR

HONG KONG HAS A RECORD FOR HOLDING FAIR ELECTIONS; CONDUCTING THE WHOLE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS EQUITABLY AND IMPARTIALLY, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING,

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SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING A POLLING STATION IN MUN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY-ELECTION FOR NEW TERRITORIES WEST,

ME PATTEN SAID: "I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I'VE SEEN THIS MORNING AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BEING CONDUCTED 30 WELL HERE IN HONG KONG. ||

"THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTION THAT'S BEEN HELD SINCE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND I WAS VERY KEEN TO SEE FOR MYSELF ELECTION IN THIS CONSTITUENCY WAS BEING CONDUCTED," HE SAID.

I BECAME HOW THE

WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON TODAY'S TURNOUT RATE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "IT'S A BIT EARLY TO SAY WHAT THE FINAL TURNOUT WILL BE. SO FAR THE CONSTITUENCY, I THINK ALMOST 9,000 PEOPLE HAVE VOTED AND THAT IS A HIGHER TURNOUT RATE THAN AT A SIMILAR TIME WHEN THE LAST BY- ELECTION HERE WAS HELD."

"BUT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO START SPECULATING ABOUT THE TURNOUT RATE AS I KNOW FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A POLITICIAN. I MUST SAY THAT AS A DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN THE DISTANT SOUND OF ELECTORAL BATTLE CONDUCTED FAIRLY AND VIGOROUSLY DID HAVE THE BLOOD RUNNING RATHER FASTER THROUGH MY VEINS WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY I WANTED TO COME HERE AND SEE THINGS FOR MYSELF THIS MORNING.," HE ADDED.

MR PATTEN POINTED OUT THAT WHILE MOST PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE THE TURNOUT GRADUALLY INCREASE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE WERE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF TURNOUT RATES ACROSS THE WORLD WHICH WERE NOT VERY HIGH.

WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ABOUT HIS INTENTIONS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY HE SAID: "I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD EXPECT ME TO HAVE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE I SET OUT SOME MY THOUGHTS ON THE PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION, AND THE RIGHT TIME DO THAT IS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.

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"IT'S SENSIBLE BOTH TO HAVE WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS AND SENSIBLE TO GIVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING MY VIEWS AND THAT'S WHAT I INTEND DO," HE ADDED.

FOR

"THERE IS, OF COURSE, ALREADY SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT THAT WR HAVE то TAKE FORWARD THE PROCESS OF DEMOCRATISATION. THAT IS MADE CLEAR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION; IT'S ALSO MADE CLEAR IN THE BASIC LAW.

"EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE ARRANGEMENTS 1995 WITH OFFICIALS IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. I WANT TO OUR GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC IN MANAGEMENT OF OUR AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG MORE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND I'M SURE THAT SHOULD BE AN AIM COMMON TO ALL OF US, I MR PATTEN SAID.

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