XN000022-1993-03-17 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1993

WAS

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE STILL HAD TO HEAR WHAT UNREASONABLE ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL WHICH WAS ENTIRELY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WAY THAT THINGS WERE DISCUSSED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

"50,

THAT IS OUR POSITION. WE'LL START TALKS TOMORROW IF CHINESE OFFICIALS WOULD LIKE BUT, PERHAPS, THEY CAN LET US KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BASIS WHICH I'VE JUST SET OUT, THE GOVERNOR ADDED.

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WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE REMARK ABOUT SETTING UP SHADOW GOVERNMENT, MR PATTEN SAID: "IF, BY THIS AFTERNOON'S STATEMENT, IT'S MEANT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HEAR CHINESE PROPOSALS ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISTRICT BOARDS AND FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THAT WILL BE A VERY WELCOME BREAKTHROUGH.

"IT WILL BE QUITE HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE POSITIVE PROPOSALS WHICH THE COMMUNITY COULD THEN LOOK AT AND WHICH WE COULD · THEN DISCUSS."

ASKED IF THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAD PROPOSED A SPECIAL ENVOY то RE-START TALKS, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THE POSITION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS SET OUT BY DOUGLAS HURD IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN LONDON ON MONDAY. BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IN ANY BRITISH TEAM, THERE WILL BE OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT,'

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"THE POSITION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.'

GOVERNOR PLANS TO VISIT U.S.

ASKED ABOUT A REPORT CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID:

"THE GOVERNOR

IS PLANNING ΤΟ VISIT THE UNITED STATES IN LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY BUT DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME ARE STILL TO BE FINALISED.

"THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WILL BE TO ARGUE THE CASE FOR UNCONDITIONAL RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS AND ΤΟ FURTHER ARGUE AGAINST LINKING TRADE AND POLITICAL ISSUES IN THE CONTEXT OF MFN RENEWAL.

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