XN000022-1993-12-10 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1993

THE LIFTING OF THE EXISTING RESTRICTION ON HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S CONGRESSES AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS WILL MEAN THAT THESE PERSONS CAN, IF THEY WANT TO, STAND FOR ELECTIONS TO THE THREE TIERS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT STARTING FROM THE 1994 DB ELECTIONS PROVIDED THEY MEET ALL OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATURE AND ARE NOT DISQUALIFIED IN ANY OTHER WAY.

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THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 15) FOR FIRST READING, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

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HK PEOPLE WILL BE IN THE KNOW: GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, THE ᎡᎢ HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE ENTITLED TO HAVE A FULL REPORT ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE 1994/95 ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS.

"BUT OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE TALKS CONTINUE WHILE WE PUT IN PLACE THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE NECESSARY IN OUR PARTIAL LEGISLATION.

"SO OUR POSITION IS THAT WHEN THE TALKS ARE BROUGHT TO A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION, OR WHEN THEY ARE NOT, WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE A FULL REPORT ON EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED," MR PATTEN SAID.

HE WAS RESPONDING TO A PRESS QUESTION ABOUT THE CHALLENGE BY THE DIRECTOR OF CHINA'S HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, MR LU PING, OF RELEASING DETAILS OF THE TALKS, AFTER VISITING WING LUNG BANK GOLDEN JUBILEE SHELTERED WORKSHOP.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE IN THE FULL PICTURE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT.

"AND WE DO SO HONESTLY, WE DO SO WITHOUT PARTIAL LEAKING OF BITS OF THE DISCUSSIONS, WE SET OUT THE WHOLE RECORD, HE SAID.

MR PATTEN ALSO SAID HE WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CURRENT ROUND OF TALKS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

"THERE HAVE BEEN 28 SERIES OF JLG MEETINGS SO FAR, AND WE IN HONG KONG ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NOT MORE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE."

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