XN000022-1992-10-21 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1992

GOVERNOR TO BRIEF LEGCO ON CHINA VISIT

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THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO BRIEF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ABOUT HIS VISIT TO CHINA AND TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AT A SITTING ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 24).

THE GOVERNOR SAID AT THE SITTING OF THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 8 THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET MEMBERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER HIS RETURN FROM CHINA TO BRIEF THEM ABOUT HIS VISIT AND TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

MOVING THE MOTION TO SUSPEND STANDING ORDERS 11 AND 12, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID THE GOVERNOR, AS PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, HAD NOW APPOINTED OCTOBER 24 FOR A SITTING FOR THIS PURPOSE.

"WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDING ORDERS OF THIS COUNCIL SO AS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR ΤΟ ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS TO AVOID THE NEED TO SUSPEND STANDING ORDERS EVERY TIME WE HAVE A SITTING FOR SUCH PURPOSE," HE SAID.

CHINA-TAIWAN LINKS BRING NEW TRADE OPPORTUNITIES

THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF DIRECT ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN SHOULD STIMULATE NEW TRADING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION IN THE LONGER TERM, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS BOSHER SAID TOGETHER WITH A GENERALLY MORE PROSPEROUS SOUTH CHINA, THIS SHOULD BRING MORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONG KONG.

IN THE SHORT TERM, IT IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO A SLOW-DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF ACTIVITIES.

HOWEVER, SHE SAID GIVEN THAT ANY CHANGE WAS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, THERE WOULD BE TIME FOR HONG KONG TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ΤΟ ANY SHORT-TERM ADVERSE IMPACTS.

IN THE FIELD OF TRADE, HONG KONG SERVES BOTH AS AN ENTREPOT FOR INDIRECT TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN AND AS A TRANSHIPMENT CENTRE FOR GOODS SOURCED FROM OR DESTINED FOR CHINA AND TAIWAN.

/LAST YEAR,