XN000022-1993-05-31 — Page 3

MONDAY, MAY 31, 1993

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HK HAS CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE

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THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, THE RT HON ALASTAIR GOODLAD, SAID EVERYTHING IN HONG KONG WAS GOING EXTREMELY WELL AND THAT THERE WAS ENORMOUS CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.

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"WE'LL PROCEED FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, HE TOLD THE MEDIA AFTER ATTENDING A COMMUNITY LUNCH TODAY (MONDAY) AS PART OF HIS FOUR- DAY VISIT TO HONG KONG.

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HE SAID HE HAD TALKED TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT NUMBER OF TOPICS, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT, NATIONALITY, BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND CONFIDENCE, AND THE CONCERN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

THIS MORNING MR GOODLAD ALSO DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF POLITICAL AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

HE REAFFIRMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION FOR THE GREATER PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

"WE

HAVE BEEN ASKING SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER FOR TALKS WITH THE CHINESE AND I'M DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOW HAVING TALKS WITH THE CHINESE," HE SAID.

RESPONDING TO A QUESTION ABOUT HOW LONG THE TALKS LAST, MR GOODLAD SAID: "THERE IS NO DEADLINE ON THE TALKS. OBVIOUSLY THEY MUSTN'T CONTINUE INDEFINITELY BUT THERE MUST BE ADEQUATE TIME TO COVER A WIDE RANGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES."

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WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE TIME TO THE LEGISLATION," HE ADDED.

FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT

AND TSUEN WAN

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THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR ALASTAIR GOODLAD, THIS (MONDAY) MORNING TOOK A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WORK IN HONG KONG,

PROTECTION, DR

ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUART REED, MR GOODLAD ARRIVED AT THE OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT'S AIR SERVICES GROUP IN REVENUE TOWER.

HE TOURED THE LABORATORIES AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE OPERATION THE AIR QUALITY MONITORING NETWORK IN HONG KONG.

OF

/MR GOODLAD