XN000022-1993-06-25 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1993

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SAR COMMITTEE NOT AFFECTING GOVT'S WORK: GOVERNOR

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HE DID NOT THINK THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) WOULD HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE PASSING OFF PARADE OF THE MILITARY SERVICE CORPS ON STONECUTTERS ISLAND, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "IF IT HELPS WITH LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE SAR, THEN SO BE IT.

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ASKED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS, MR PATTEN SAID THE TALKS HAD BEEN MOVING FORWARD STEADILY.

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'MY ESTIMATE AT THE MOMENT IS THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME MOVEMENTS AND THAT'S WELCOME,' HE ADDED.

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IN REPLY ΤΟ QUESTIONS

'SINCERITY' AND SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I'M VERY CONTENT то REST ON THE JUDGEMENT AND COMMONSENSE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT IS LESS TALK ABOUT SINCERITY AND MORE EVIDENCE OF SINCERE ACTIONS.

"WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANT TO SEE IS BRITAIN, CHINA AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WORKING CONSTRUCTIVELY TOGETHER AND TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE SAR.

"THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. WE INTEND AS WELL то TRY ΤΟ ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING WE DO BEFORE 1997 ENSURES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AFTER 1997.

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SEVENTH ROUND OF ELECTIONS TALKS

THE BRITISH SIDE AND THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE AGREED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE, SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE, MR JIANG ENZHU, VICE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, WILL HOLD THEIR SEVENTH ROUND OF TALKS IN BEIJING ON 5 AND 6 JULY 1993 ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, THE PRINCIPLE OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE RELEVANT UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA.

AGREEMENTS

AND

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