XN000022-1992-09-16 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1992

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CONSTRUCTIVE STEP FORWARD IN AIRPORT MEETING: GOVERNOR

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!

THE

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING REPRESENTED A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE STEP FORWARD BY THE BRITISH SIDE.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON, MR PATTEN SAID: "I THINK THAT MEETS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FROM THE CHINESE SIDE LAST WEEK."

I

"I

THINK THAT THERE IS THE CHANCE OF BREAKING THE LOG JAM. THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE. I THINK PEOPLE ARE PRETTY FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE DONE THAT SO FAR,' HE ADDED.

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"SO I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT AFTER THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXAMINE OUR SUBSTANTIVE 'YES', THEY'LL BE ABLE TO READ IT FOR WHAT IT IS, HE SAID.

ASKED ABOUT HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO PEKING, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THE MAIN POINT OF MY VISIT TO PEKING IN OCTOBER AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IS SO THAT I CAN ESTABLISH A GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS.

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"I THINK IT IS UNLIKELY THAT WE'LL AGREE ON EVERYTHING WE EVER DISCUSS BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS THINGS KNOWING ONE ANOTHER'S POSITION, RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER'S POSITION AND RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER'S INTEGRITY, AND IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT THAT HAPPY STATE OF AFFAIRS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MEET PEOPLE FACE TO FACE," HE ADDED.

MR PATTEN SAID HE HAD AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING VISIT TO LONDON.

AND

"AS YOU KNOW, I HAD GOOD MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER FOREIGN SECRETARY AND OTHER SENIOR MINISTERS. I MET ABOUT TEN MINISTERS IN ALL DURING THE COURSE OF MY 16 HOURS, HE SAID.

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ASKED TO COMMENT ABOUT CURRENT TRADE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT FREE TRADE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS, BUT FOR BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN COUNTRIES.

"80 WE WILL CONTINUF TO ARGUE VIGOROUSLY FOR FREE TRADE. I THINK THAT'S IN THE INTEREST OF CHINA; I THINK IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES; CERTAINLY IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG WHICH HAS BEEN A CHAMPION OF FREE TRADE OVER THE YEARS AND IN MY JUDGMENT, PLAINLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WORLD, HE ADDED.

IT'S

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