XN000022-1993-03-17 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1993

GOVERNOR TOURS CENTRAL AND WESTERN

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PATTEN, VISITED THE

THE GOVERNOR FIRST INSPECTED A SECTION OF THE HILLSIDE ESCALATOR LINK PROJECT ALONG COCHRANE STREET AND WAS BRIEFED BY THE REGIONAL HIGHWAYS ENGINEER, MR W L WONG.

THE LINK, WITH A LENGTH OF ABOUT 800 METRES AND A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 135 METRES IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY AUTUMN THIS YEAR.

THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO HELP RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE MID-LEVELS.

THE GOVERNOR THEN VISITED A NURSERY RUN BY THE CHIU YANG RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG WHERE HE WATCHED CHILDREN AT PLAY.

HE ALSO TOURED THE "HAM YUE LAAN" SALT FISH ROW LOCATED ALONG A SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST.

WHICH IS

BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT, MR PATTEN ATTENDED A COMMUNITY RECEPTION WHERE HE MET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THE GOVERNOR WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON), MR PAUL WONG; CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR HERMAN CHO AND DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR AMBROSE LAU.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS SECURE

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS SECURE UNDER HONG KONG LAW, ACCORDING

TO THE FINDINGS OF A REVIEW BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WHEN OUTLINING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REVIEW CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY.

THE

SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, HAD SAID IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS LAST OCTOBER THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REVIEW LAWS WHICH MIGHT INFRINGE PRESS FREEDOM AND LOOK AGAIN AT WHAT MIGHT BE DONE то EXTEND ACCESS TO OFFICIAL INFORMATION.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE REVIEW EXAMINED THOSE HONG KONG LAWS WHICH WERE ALLEGED TO THREATEN PRESS FREEDOM IN THE LIGHT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE. IT CONCLUDED THAT PRESS FREEDOM IS SECURE UNDER HONG KONG LAW.

"HOWEVER, WE