XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 42

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

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IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE CHINESE STUDIES COURSE BEGAN IN PEKING FOR SENIOR STAFF.

THE GOVERNOR SAID BY 1997, ALL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND DIRECTORATE-LEVEL OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A FORMAL TRAINING COURSE OF SOME KIND RELATED TO THE TRANSITION.

MORE CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA ENVISAGED

* *

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD PRACTICAL MEASURES TO DEVELOP CO-OPERATION IN THE MAIN AREAS OF IMPORTANCE TO WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SATD TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ONE OF THESE MAIN ARBAS WOULD BE THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS IN HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG, HE SAID.

THE OTHER MAIN AREAS ARE THE CREATION, WITH THE ADVICE AND

OF THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

OF COUNCIL,

AN APPLIED RESEARCH CENTRE, DRAWING TOGETHER THE EXPERTISE OF LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND OF THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES; MEASURES ΤΟ ENCOURAGE THE CROSS-BORDER FLOW OF A WIDER RANGE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES; AND THE PROPOSAL, STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE HONG KONG HAULAGE INDUSTRY, FOR THE OPENING OF A 24-HOUR BORDER CROSSING AT LOK MA CHAU.

BY

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG AND CHINA HAD A LONG- STANDING PARTNERSHIP AND SUCH RELATIONSHIP, IN MOST AREAS, WAS CONSTRUCTIVE AND BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES.

"I WANT то EMPHASISE AGAIN THAT I AM CONFIDENT ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS A GOOD PLACE IN WHICH TO RAISE A FAMILY OR MAKE A CAREER.

"PROVIDED THAT THE 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND RESPECTED, HONG KONG'S SPECIAL WAY OF LIFE IS BOUND TO FLOURISH FAR INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, HE SAID.

MR PATTEN POINTED OUT THAT THE LEVEL OF BUSINESS TIR WAS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF THE SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS.

* HONG KONG'S ENTREPRENEURS LED THE WORLD'S BUSINESS INTO CHINA IN THE 1980S. THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST STAKE IN CHINA'S MODERNISATION, ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF EXTERNAL DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE HELPED TO MAKE GUANGDONG PROBABLY THE FASTEST GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD.

CHINA'S LEADING STATE ENTERPRISES HAVE LONG PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN BANKING, TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER KEY SECTORS OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY. THEIR MORE RECENT INVESTMENTS IN AVIATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION HAVE GIVEN THEM AN ADDITIONAL STAKE IN HONG KONG'9

*

PROSPERITY.

/* THE INTERNATIONAL