XN000022-1993-03-22 — Page 8

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1993

STATEMENT TO CLEAR MISTRANSLATION OF GOVERNOR'S INTERVIEW * * * * *

THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS SPOKESMAN, MR MIKE HANSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT CERTAIN REMARKS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH ASIA TELEVISION LTD LAST WEEK HAD BEEN MISTRANSLATED.

TO

IN AN

THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID: "WE WILL GO ON TRYING

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ΤΟ DELIVER

THE PEOPLE OF

KONG HONG HONOURABLE, DECENT AND COMPETENT WAY.

MR PATTEN DID NOT SAY ANYTHING

WHICH COULD BE TAKEN

CHALLENGING

PROVISIONS THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 UNDER THE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

AS

MR HANSON SAID THE GOVERNOR WAS ENTIRELY COMMITTED TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THE CHINESE TRANSLATION OF HIS REMARKS

AND INCORRECT

THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE

ON COMMENTED

THE MISTRANSLATION WITHOUT CHECKING THE FACTS.

WAS

MIGHT WELL BE

"IF WE ARE TO IMPROVE MUTUAL TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING, WE SHOULD THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE RESPONDING TO REPORTS WHICH INCORRECT, MR HANSON SAID.

"

THE

THAT THE

CONTINUED

AG ON APPLICATION OF

INT'L RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO HK

* * * * *

ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS,

SAID TODAY

(MONDAY) ON THE REGION

BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES HAD REACHED AGREEMENT APPLICATION IN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE AFTER 1997 OF MORE THAN 100 MULTILATERAL TREATIES.

MR MATHEWS ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE ROLE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AFTER 1997 WOULD BE LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THAT AT THE MOMENT.

ON THE MULTILATERAL TREATIES, HE SAID AMONG THESE WERE THE CONVENTIONS OR TREATIES ESTABLISHING 27 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE GENERAL TARIFFS AND

TRADE, THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION,

THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, AND INTERPOL.

THE

HE WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LEGAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THE

MR

MATHEWS SAID THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HỌNG KONG'S CONTINUED GROWTH AS A COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE THAT ITS INTERNATIONAL LINKS, IN ALL THEIR MULTIFARIOUS FORMS, SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND DEVELOPED AFTER 1997 AND THAT AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THESE LINKS THE NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN WHICH HONG KONG

WAS

WAS

INCLUDED.

/HE SAID