XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

BRITISH TEAM WILL NEVER WALK AWAY FROM NEGOTIATION

THE

HONG KONG MEMBERS WILL BRITISH SIDE WITH ITS AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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NEVER

WALK

CHRISTOPHER

THR SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE ISLANDS DISTRICT,

THAT GOVERNOR SAID: "WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE AND I HOPE

CO-OPERATE IN THE ARE AS WELL BECAUSE WE NEED TO CHINESE OFFICIALS INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

"WE NEED

THE FUTURE

GUARANTEES TO CO-OPERATE IN A WAY WHICH PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS, BY UNDERPINNING THE RULE OF LAW RATHER THAN ERODING IT."

ASKED IF THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD BE PREPARED TO REVEAL THE THE CONTENTS OF THE TALKS IN VIEW OF COMMENTS FROM THE CHINESE SIDE, GOVERNOR SAID : "OF COURSE, IF THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD REVEAL WHAT'S HAPPENED IN 17 ROUNDS OF TALKS, WE'LL BE OBLIGE.

"THE REASON WHY WE DON'T, WHY WE'VE KEPT THINGS IS THE CHINESE SIDE ARE ALWAYS SAYING THAT IS HOW THEY CONDUCT THE DISCUSSIONS.

**IF

LIKE US то DELIGHTED TO

CONFIDENTIAL LIKE US TO

VERY

DURING

ANYONE'S TALKING ABOUT HONESTY AND TRUTH, I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY, IN DUB COURSE, TO SET OUT EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED THESE DISCUSSIONS, NOT JUST IN THE 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH ROUNDS BUT THE PREVIOUS 14 ROUNDS AS WELL."

IN

ΤΟ CHINESE WERE

HE ADDED

LOOKING THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE OFFICIALS WHO WERE MEETING IN PEKING TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY

"STRENGTHENING PREPARED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN OUR ECONOMY AND IN IMPROVING OUR LIVELIHOOD".

"I THINK PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD WELCOME

SOME CONCRETE

ASSURANCES OF THAT," HE SAID.

SIDE

THESE

ABOUT

"SECONDLY, WHAT I THINK PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE LOOKING TO SEE, LOOKING TO HEAR, IS SOME PROPOSALS, SOME IDEAS FROM THE CHINESE

IN ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES WHICH ARE STILL OUTSTANDING TALKS ABOUT THE THROUGH TRAIN, ABOUT THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES."

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