XN000022-1993-04-28 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1993

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FAIREST WIND FOR TALKS: GOVERNOR

PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANT TO GIVE THE TALKS ON THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS THE FAIREST POSSIBLE WIND WHILE RECOGNISING THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING ΤΟ REPORTERS AFTER VISITING YUEN LONG DISTRICT, MR PATTEN SAID: "I THINK THAT THEREFORE MOST PEOPLE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, BELIEVE THAT IT'S SENSIBLE FOR THE NEGOTIATORS TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER CONFIDENTIALLY SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THEIR DIFFICULT TALKS.

НЕ NOTED THAT THE NEGOTIATORS WERE CONDUCTING THE TALKS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND SINCERE WAY.

"WHAT

ACTUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE TALKS, THE GIVE AND TAKE IN THE TALKS, WILL, I HOPE, LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

"BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS FOR US то TACKLE. I THINK BOTH SIDES WANT TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME AND I, FOR MY PART, EXPRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND EXPRESS ON OTHER OCCASIONS WHAT MY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN WIDELY SHARED IN HONG KONG."

ASKED ABOUT THE TIMING OF INTRODUCING THE POLITICAL PROPOSALS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID A NUMBER OF FACTORS HAD ΤΟ BE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF.

"FIRST OF ALL. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS MADE IN THE TALKS," HE SAID.

"SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT I'M SURE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT WANT US TO BE NEGOTIATING AT THE SAME TIME AS WE WERE PUTTING PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF THEM.

"THIRDLY, AND IT IS SOMETHING WHICH I'M SURE IS RECOGNISED CHINESE OFFICIALS AND NEGOTIATORS AS WELL AS BY US, WE DON'T HAVE INFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME.

BY

AN

"WE DO HAVE TO PUT ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE FOR THE 1994/1995 ELECTIONS AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO HAVE LEGISLATION IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS WORK SATISFACTORILY."

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