XN000022-1993-09-29 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1993

POLICY SPERCH TO TOUCH ON ELECTION TALKS

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID HE WOULD TRY NEXT WEEK IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS. ΤΟ LECCO TO TAKE HONG KONG PEOPLE IN A REASONABLE WAY INTO THE CONFIDENCE WITHOUT RISKING THE TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS.

HONG KONG PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS BEEN MADE IN THE TALKS WITHOUT BREACHING CONFIDENTIALITY, HE

THAT HAS SAID.

HE SAID:

SPEAKING TO MEDIA MEMBERS AFTER VISITING MONG кок, "THERE IS AS YOU KNOW A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. WE ALL WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE BUT WE CAN'T GO ON FOREVER.

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MR PATTEN SAID HONG KONG PEOPLE HAD SHOWN EXTRAORDINARY PATIENCE AND THAT INDICATED THAT THEY, LIKE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WOULD LIKE IF POSSIBLE TO SEE AN AGREEMENT IN THE TALKS.

"THROUGHOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE TRIED TO BE AS COURTEOUS AS POSSIBLE AND TO AVOID RHETORIC AND ABUSE," HE SAID.

TALKING ABOUT THE BASIS OF THIS DISCUSSION, ELECTIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED FAIRLY.

"AND IF WE DON'T HAVE CREDIBLE

THE RULE OF LAW, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE

ELECTIONS THAT WILL THREATEN

IT WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND TO SUSTAIN HONG KONG'S VALUKS AND WAY OF LIFE, HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WAS THE ISSUE HE HOPED THAT CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR GIAN QICHEN, WOULD ADDRESS WHEN HE TALKED TO BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR DOUGLAS HURD LATER IN THE WEEK.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON HIS MEETING WITH DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, MR LU PING, MR PATTEN SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM AT ANY TIME.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE TO COME TO HONG KONG AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

FARMERS TO GET RELIEF GRANTS TOMORROW

EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND OF WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW

DOT EARLIER THIS

THE FIRST BATCH OF GRANTS FROM THE THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (THURSDAY) TO SOME 200 FARMERS AFFECTED BY TYPHOON WEEK.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WOULD BE INFORMED BY TELEPHONE CHEQUES FROM THE PAYMENT OFFICES FROM TOMORROW.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS TRYING ITS BEST TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE SO THAT EARLY PAYMENT COULD AFFECTED FARMERS BEFORE THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL.

(WEDNESDAY) SAID TO COLLECT THE

INVESTIGATE BE MADE ΤΟ

AND

THE

/SO FAR