XN000022-1992-11-15 — Page 2

MAINTAIN OUR WAY OF LIFE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1992

GOVERNOR

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID ON SATURDAY (TORONTO TIME) THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR "OUR SYSTEM" BEFORE AND AFTER 1997, AND MAINTAIN "OUR WAY OF LIFE".

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE HON BARBARA MCDOUGALL, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, IN TORONTO, THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG HAD BECOME AN ECONOMIC WONDER BECAUSE OF "THE VITALITY, THE ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY", AND AN OPEN ECONOMY.

77

"WE HAVE PURSUED POLICIES TOWARDS BUSINESS BASED ON MINIMUM INTERFERENCE AND MAXIMUM SUPPORT, HE TOLD THE 200 CANADIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE AND CHINESE COMMUNITY LEADERS AT THE LUNCHEON.

OUT OF A SUCCESSFUL ECONOMY, MR PATTEN SAID, HONG KONG HAD INVESTED IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, AND "WE ARE NOW INVESTING MASSIVELY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURES", INCLUDING "OUR AIRPORT".

"PROSPERITY AND STABILITY IN HONG KONG HELPED OF COURSE TO SUSTAIN OUR WAY OF LIFE," HE SAID. "BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT OUR WAY OF LIFE HELPS TO SUSTAIN OUR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.'

"I

"IT'S THAT WAY OF LIFE WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION," SAID MR PATTEN. "THE WAY OF LIFE WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN SUCH DETAIL IN THE JOINT DECLARATION COMPRISES OUR SYSTEM

ONE OF THE TWO SYSTEMS IN THAT HISTORIC CONCEPT OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS.

++

——

"WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR IT AFTER 1997 AND OF COURSE TO STAND UP FOR IT BEFORE 1997 AS WELL, THE GOVERNOR SAID. WON'T STAND UP FOR IT NOW WHAT CHANCE THAT PEOPLE WILL STAND IT IN THE YEARS AHEAD."

"THAT IN MY JUDGEMENT IS VERY LARGELY WHAT THE PRESENT IN HONG KONG IS ALL ABOUT, MR PATTEN ADDED.

||

זז

WE HAVE

"IF WE

UP FOR

DEBATE

HE REITERATED THAT THOSE WHO CRITICISED HIS POLITICAL REFORM PROPOSALS SHOULD "PUT UP THEIR OWN PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE", AND "I DO THINK THAT WE CAN AND SHOULD ENJOY A PERIOD OF CALMER REFLECTION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE WE FINALLY RESOLVE THOSE MATTERS.'

11

SPEAKING AS THE CANADIAN HOST, THE HON BARBARA MCDOUGALL, EXPRESSED CANADA'S "FULL SUPPORT" FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM.

+

11

"WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SITUATION, GOVERNOR PATTEN, SHE SAID, "AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR THE ENERGY AND SKILL AND THE INSIGHT THAT YOU ARE BRINGING TO THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

14

**

"CANADA SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG, THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SINO-BRITISH ACCORD AND THE BASIC LAW. MCDOUGALL SAID. "AND WE SUPPORT MEASURES LIKELY TO PERMIT TERRITORY TO CONTINUE TO PROSPER.

WITHIN

"

THE

/"CANADA STANDS