WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993
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FULLEST DEBATE ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS EXPECTED
THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN. SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT WHEN THE TALKS ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WERK COMPLETED, THERE WOULD BE THE FULLEST DEBATE BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE LEGCO.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I'LL VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WHATEVER I'M ABLE TO SAY AT THAT STAGE TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF TALKS WILL BK ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY."
ASKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MORE OPENNESS IN THE TALKS, HE SAID: "WHILE ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY AN OPEN COMMUNITY AND OPEN SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG, WOULD LIKE TO SAY MORE RATHER THAN
LESS, WHAT WE
ALL WANT EVEN MORE THAN THAT IS THAT THESE TALKS SHOULD GO WELL.
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"I THINK THE TALKS WOULD STAND LESS CHANCE OF GOING WELL IF WE WERE TO PUBLICISE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED DAY BY DAY DURING THE TALKS.'
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IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE BRITISH SIDE HAD SOFTENED ITS STANCE, MR PATTEN SAID: "OUR POSITION TODAY IS AS OUR POSITION WAS WHEN THE TALKS BEGAN. BUT, AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER, I THINK YOU WOULD EXPECT THE PRECISE DETAILS OF THESE MATTERS TO BE LEFT WITH THE NEGOTIATORS.
"I ALSO THINK IT IS ABUNDANTLY PLAIN THAT THE STANCE WE HAVE TAKEN IS A STAND SUPPORTED BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
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ON THE ISSUE OF "THROUGH TRAIN", THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS A QUESTION WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ASKED.
"THEY SAY TO ME WHY ORGANISE INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH GO THROUGH 1997 IF INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES DON'T AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A MATTER WHICH WILL REQUIRE FURTHER DISCUSSION AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE WILL PRODUCE AGREEMENTS ON THAT, HE SAID.
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ASKED ABOUT THE TIMING OF LEGISLATION OF THE BILL. MR PATTEN SAID: "WE DO WANT, ALL OF US, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, TO SEE A SATISFACTORY OUTCOME TO THE TALKS WHICH HAVE BEGUN WELL IN PEKING.
"I THINK THE COMMUNITY WANTS THE NEGOTIATORS TO BE GIVEN TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A GOOD OUTCOME IF THAT IS AT POSSIBLE. WE ALL HOPE IT IS."
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TIME, ALL
COMMENTING ON MR GOODLAD'S FORTHCOMING VISIT, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS ONE OF HIS REGULAR VISITS TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO HEAR THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY.
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"HE IS OBVIOUSLY COMING AT AN IMPORTANT MOMENT,
HE ADDED.
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