XN000022-1993-05-08 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1993

AMERICANS SHOW INTEREST IN HK SUCCESS: GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID ON FRIDAY (U.S. TIME} THAT THE WARM WELCOME HE HAD RECEIVED IN THE UNITED STATES WAS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION OF THE INTEREST OF AMERICANS IN HONG KONG'S SUCCESS.

IN CONCLUDING HIS TWO-DAY VISIT TO NEW YORK, WHICH FOLLOWED A FOUR-DAY VISIT TO WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE HE MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, MR PATTEN SAID HE COULD NOT HAVE HOPED FOR A BETTER SERIES OF MEETINGS.

HB ALSO SAID HIS VISIT WAS WELL TIMED BECAUSE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CLOSE TO FINALISING ITS POLICY ON MOST FAVOURED NATION (MFN) FOR CHINA.

MR PATTEN SAID THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS WILL BE "DECISIVE" IN TERMS OF U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS. HE NOTED THAT ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WINSTON LORD IS TRAVELLING TO BEIJING FOR TALKS.

"ALL I CAN SAY WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY 18 THAT HONG KONG'S POSITION AND THE IMPACT ON HONG KONG WILL BE ONE OF THE FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION SETTLES ITS POLICY ON THE MFN ISSUE, MR PATTEN SAID.

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"THIS VISIT HAS REMINDED ME OF THE INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG. IT'S REMINDED ME OF THE INTEREST SHOWN IN OUR FUTURE IN A WHOLLY PROPER WAY BY OUR FRIENDS IN AMERICA, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR STRONGEST TRADING PARTNERS.

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MR PATTEN, AS HE HAS DURING HIS ENTIRE U.S. VISIT, HIS COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS.

EMPHASISED

"AS THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, OF COURSE T FEEL PASSIONATELY CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. IF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, IT WOULD BE VERY SURPRISING,"

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I DON'T BELIEVE THAT RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE ARE THE BEST WAY OF SECURING HUMAN RIGHTS OBJECTIVES. I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE MORE LIKELY то PROMOTE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS THAN RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE OR THE DEPRESSION OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.

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MR PATTEN PRAISED THE ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICES WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS IN WASHINGTON, DC, NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO.

NOTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ONLY A FEW HOURS BEFORE HIS NEWS BRIEFING HAD ENDORSED MR BARRIE WIGGHAM AS NEW COMMISSIONER FOR THE UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE INCREASED EFFORT IN THE

U.S. WILL BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNOR BEGAN HIS LAST FULL DAY IN THE U.S. WITH A PRIVATE ADDRESS TO THE PRESTIGIOUS COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING LUNCH.

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A ROUNDTABLE MEETING WITH INFLUENTIAL CORE MEMBERS OF THE CHINA STUDIES SEMINAR OF THE COUNCIL.

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