XN000022-1993-11-20 — Page 3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1993

2

EARLIER SHE SAID SHE HAD BEEN PARTICULARLY KEEN DURING THE PROMOTIONAL TOUR TO PUT ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT ECONOMICALLY HONG KONG WAS DOING VERY WELL AND ITS ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS VERY STRONG.

"GIVEN OUR STRATEGIC POSITION AND OUR INNATE STRENGTHS, WE SEE GREAT PROSPECTS FOR CONTINUING INVESTMENT BOTH IN HONG KONG IN ITS OWN RIGHT AND IN TERMS OF ENABLING COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP :OPPORTUNITIES THE EAST ASIAN REGION, MRS CHAN SAID.

--

IN

ON THE SUBJECT OF 1997, SHE SAID THERE WAS INTEREST IN, AND CONCERN ABOUT, THE CURRENT PROGRESS OF TALKS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA OVER HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS.

"BUT ON THE WHOLE I THINK THERE IS A BELIEF THAT IN THE END THE TWO PARTIES WILL BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFICULTIES SO THAT THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG BOTH NOW AND AFTER 1997, SHE ADDED.

||

MRS CHAN IS DUE TO RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING. HOWEVER, THE PROMOTION WILL CONTINUE WITH THE POPULAR HONG KONG ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION IN FRANKFURT RUNNING UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR AND THE HONG KONG FILM FESTIVAL WILL BE ON IN PARIS FOR ANOTHER FORTNIGHT.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY MEETS PRESIDENT CLINTON

FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAMISH MACLEOD TODAY (FRIDAY

NOV 19) TUS

WEST COAST TIME) MET PRESIDENT CLINTON DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION LEADERS MEETING.

L

LATER IN THE DAY, MR MACLEOD JOINED ALL THE OTHER APEC LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT CLINTON AT A RECEPTION AT SEATTLE'S ASIAN ART MUSEUM, FOLLOWED BY A DINNER, AT WHICH THE PRESIDENT GAVE HIS KEYNOTE SPEECH...

TOMORROW (SATURDAY), THE LEADERS WILL TRAVEL BY BOAT ΤΟ BLAKE ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF SEATTLE FOR A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT

MR MACLEOD RETURNS TO HONG KONG ON SUNDAY.

I

EARLIER IN THE DAY, MR T H CHAU SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY TOLD A MEDIA BRIEFING SESSION AFTER THE APEC MINISTERTAL MEETING THAT HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE ITS PARTICIPATION IN APEC AFTER 1997.

"HONG KONG WILL HAVE FULL AUTONOMY IN TRADE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES AFTER 1997. IT IS STATED BOTH IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND THE BASIC LAW PREPARED BY CHINA FOR THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION REGION.

I

/ HONG KONG