XN000022-1992-11-25 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1992

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GOVERNOR IN JAPAN

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON

CHRISTOPHER PATTEN,

TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE HOPED HIS VISIT WOULD HELP TRADE AND INVESTMENT TIES BETWEEN JAPAN AND HONG KONG,

SAID IN TOKYO STRENGTHEN THE

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON HIS ARRIVAL AT TOKYO'S NARITA AIRPORT, HE SAID HE WAS VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VISIT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IT HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT COINCIDED WITH THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HONG KONG JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE.

THIS COMMITTEE "HELPS TO STRENGTHEN THE LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN WHICH ARE ALREADY VERY CONSIDERABLE, BOTH IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT”.

MR PATTEN IS SPENDING ALMOST FOUR DAYS IN TOKYO AT THE INVITATION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. AS PART OF THE VISIT HE WILL BE MEETING A NUMBER OF JAPANESE LEADERS.

*I'LL BE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION, ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE REGION, THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE AND OPEN TRADE FOR ALL OF US, AND I'LL BE EXPLAINING SOME OF MY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES DURING MY FIVE-YEAR GOVERNORSHIP OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

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MR PATTEN SAID HE WAS SURE THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HONG KONG "AND EQUALLY SURE THAT EVERYONE

HERE, AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, RECOGNISES THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION RESTS PRINCIPALLY WITH PEKING AND LONDON COURSE, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG".

AND, OF

THE GOVERNOR SAID OBVIOUSLY SINCE HONG KONG WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CAPITAL, "THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF INTEREST AROUND THE WORLD IN HOW WE ARE DOING AND WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE".

TONIGHT MR PATTEN IS MEETING JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN AT A DINNER HOSTED BY THE PRINCIPAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN TOKYO.

TOMORROW HE WILL ADDRESS THE PLENARY SESSION OF THE JOINT HONG KONG JAPAN, JAPAN HONG KONG BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE BEFORE GOING ON TO MEET THE PRIME MINISTER MR MIYAZAWA.

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