XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

QUESTION: THE CHINESE OFFICIAL OF THE XINHUA SAID,

THAT THEY HAVE NO MORE INTEREST ON BRITISH SIDE AND THEY WILL NOT HOLD, LIKELY TO HOLD, ANY MORE TALKS WITH BRITAIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONSIDER TO TABLE THE REST OF THE PROPOSALS TO LEGCO IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

GOVERNOR: WE'VE TABLED, OR WE'VE PROPOSED GAZETTING AND INTRODUCING A PARTIAL BILL IN ORDER TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE OTHER ISSUES. I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING IF CHINESE OFFICIALS SAID WHAT THEIR OBJECTION IS TO OUR PROPOSALS ON SINGLE SEAT SINGLE VOTE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SINCE 17 ROUNDS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AGREE TO THAT, PERHAPS THEY CAN SAY WHY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT? EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG PRETTY WELL SUPPORTS IT. SO WHY DON'T CHINESE OFFICIALS SUPPORT IT. BUT I WANT TO REPEAT THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WITH ITS HONG KONG MEMBERS WILL NEVER WALK AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE AND I HOPE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS ARE AS WELL BECAUSE WE NEED TO COOPERATE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE NEED TO COOPERATE IN A WAY WHICH GUARANTEES THE FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS, BY UNDERPINNING THE RULE OF LAW RATHER THAN ERODING IT.

0

GOVERNOR VISITS ISLANDS DISTRICT

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY VISITED CHEUNG CHAU AND DISCOVERY BAY FOR AN UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT.

(WEDNESDAY) LATEST

THE

AND LOCAL

ON CHEUNG CHAU, HE SAW SOME RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROJECTS, INCLUDING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKS, PAVED FOOTPATHS, SITTING-OUT AREAS AND REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS.

IN THE TWO YEARS FROM 1991, $20.1 MILLION WAS SPENT ON LOCAL PROJECTS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT. AN ESTIMATED $18.6 MILLION HAS ALSO BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

PAK SHE AND VIEWED ALONG THE PROMENADE OF

MR PATTEN ALSO VISITED A HOLIDAY FLAT IN THE TYPHOON SHELTER AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS THE ISLAND BEFORE LEAVING FOR DISCOVERY BAY.

DURING THIS JOURNEY, HE MET A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DISCUSSED LOCAL ISSUES WITH THEM.

AT DISCOVERY BAY, MR PATTEN WAS BRIEFED ON THE LANTAU PORT HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

THE

AND

THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY HAS RECOMMENDED THAT BULK OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE PORT FACILITIES BE LOCATED AT NORTHEAST LANTAU.

THE PROPOSED LANTAU PORT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE 17 CONTAINER BERTHS WITH A RESERVE CAPACITY FOR SEVEN MORE, IS DESIGNED ΤΟ MEET THE NEED FOR PORT FACILITIES UP TO THE YEAR 2011 AND BEYOND. IT PLANNED THAT THE FIRST BERTH WOULD BE OPERATIONAL IN MID-1997.

IS

/MR PATTEN