XN000022-1992-11-14 — Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1992

GOVERNOR KEEN TO CONSIDER

ALTERNATIVE POLITICAL REFORM PROPOSALS

THE GOVERNOR THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN,

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SAID ON FRIDAY (OTTAWA TIME) THAT HE WAS "VERY KEEN" TO CONSIDER CHINA'S ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS ON HONG KONG'S POLITICAL REFORM, AND HOPED TO HAVE A "CALM AND RATIONAL" DEBATE.

SPEAKING AT A JOINT MEET-THE-MEDIA SESSION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, THE RT HON BRIAN MULRONEY, ON PARLIAMENT HILL, MR PATTEN SAID "TIME ISN'T LIMITLESS" FOR PEOPLE TO PUT UP THEIR ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS.

"CHINESE OFFICIALS THEMSELVES HAVE CONCEDED THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD A "CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE" ON HIS PROPOSALS, AND "IT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THE LEGCO TAKES DECISIONS ON LEGISLATION."

"I'M VERY KEEN TO CONSIDER ADVICE FROM CHINA, MR PATTEN SAID. "I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE WISDOM OF CHINA.

"I THINK WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG

WANT," THE GOVERNOR SAID, "IS A CALM AND RATIONAL DEBATE, ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST SECURE THE VALUES WHICH ARE SET OUT IN LINE AFTER LINE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

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MR PATTEN SAID THE BASIC LAW 'IS SILENT" ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT PRESENT THE FOCUS FOR DEBATE. "THE COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE IN 1995, THE WAY IN WHICH THE NINE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD BE DETERMINED, THE VOTING METHOD FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR THE GEOGRAPHICAL SEATS IN 1995," HE SAID.

"THE BASIC LAW IS SILENT ON ALL THOSE MATTERS.

PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS."

SO I'VE HAD

TO

OTHER DETACHED,

IF THE NCNA (NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY) OR ANY OBJECTIVE, RATIONAL BODY CAN POINT OUT IN THE BASIC LAW WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE SPECIFICALLY DEALT WITH, I'LL BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM THEM, HE ADDED.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT REUTER'S ACCOUNT THAT HE WAS USING THE WORD "EMPTY-HEADED" TO DESCRIBE THE CHINESE, HE SAID: "WHAT I REFERRED TO WAS 'EMPTY THREATS' NOT 'EMPTY-HEADED', SO I THINK YOU WILL ACTUALLY FIND THAT NCNA WILL WANT TO ADJUST THEIR RESPONSE SINCE REUTERS HAVE CORRECTED THEIR REPORT.

T

THE GOVERNOR ON FRIDAY SPENT ALMOST AN HOUR MEETING WITH MR

MULRONEY.

THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER TOLD THE MEDIA AFTER THEIR MEETING THAT CANADA "HAS DONE ITS VERY BEST" TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF HONG KONG AND CHINA.

"GOVERNOR PATTEN'S