XN000022-1993-07-22 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1993

THE

NINTH ROUND OF TALKS ON ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS

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 NINTH ROUND OF TALKS IN BEIJING ON 16 AND 17 AUGUST 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 AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA.

THE

GOVERNOR WILL HAVE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, WILL BE HAVING EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WHEN HE VISITS LONDON NEXT WEEK.

MR PATTEN WILL HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, MR DOUGLAS HURD, MINISTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS THERE.

"THE PURPOSE OF MY MEETING WITH DOUGLAS HURD AND OTHER OFFICIALS IS TO HAVE A REGULAR EXCHANGE ON HONG KONG, TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING IN THE TALKS ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TO AGREE ON THE STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE.

T

BE

"BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'D LIKE TO TAKE REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES OF MEETING MR HURD AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS, AND I'LL HAVING QUITE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WHEN I AM IN LONDON, THE GOVERNOR TOLD REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE CHARTER FOR YOUTH PROMULGATION CONFERENCE TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR PATTEN WILL TRAVEL TO LONDON ON JULY 27. HE WILL, MEET MR HURD ON JULY 29 BEFORE STARTING HIS ANNUAL LEAVE. HE WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON AUGUST 31.

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