XN000022-1993-06-16 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1993

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GOVERNOR HOPES FOR MORE PROGRESS AT ELECTION TALKS

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE VERY MUCH ROPED THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE PROGRESS AT THE TALKS OVER THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95 BECAUSE HONG KONG WANTED TO GET ON WITH THINGS AND FIND SOME SOLUTIONS.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE THIRD WORLD PLUMBING CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WANTS.'

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ASKED ABOUT REPORTS OF POSITIVE MOVES MADE AT THE TALKS, MR PATTEN SAID: "WE'VE BEEN POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE FROM THE OUTSET."

"AFTER ALL, IT WAS BRITISH, HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS WHICH SUGGESTED THE TALKS AS LONG AGO AS LAST OCTOBER. SO, WE'VE BEEN VERY CONSTRUCTIVE RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET,

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION CONCERNING SINCERITY, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WHAT SINCERITY MEANS IS WHAT THE BRITISH-HONG KONG TEAM HAS BEEN DISPLAYING FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL WANT ΤΟ SEE SINCERITY ALL ROUND."

"I THINK SINCERITY INVOLVES WORKING CONSTRUCTIVELY AND PURPOSEFULLY TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WHICH WILL BE FAIR, OPEN AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.'

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ASKED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS, MR PATTEN SATD: "OF COURSE, PEOPLE ARE BEING EXTREMELY PATIENT. BUT I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME TO THE TALKS AND A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME WHICH WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.'

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GOVERNOR TO VISIT LONDON

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON JUNE 29 FOR ONE OF HIS REGULAR VISITS TO LONDON FOR CONSULTATIONS.

MR PATTEN WILL BE IN LONDON FROM JUNE 30 TO JULY 2.

HE WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AS WELL AS OTHER MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS.

MR PATTEN WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MR MICHAEL SZE, THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR AT BEIJING, SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, WILL ALSO RETURN TO LONDON FOR THESE MEETINGS.

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