XN000022-1994-01-06 — Page 6

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1994

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GOVT WOULD RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON AIRPORT BILL: CS

*

OF

THE

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN, THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD RESPOND TO MEMBERS OF THE

COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE FOR THE PREPARATORY HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (PWC) IN THE SAME RESPONDED TO ANY OTHER GROUP IF THEY WISHED TO POSE QUESTIONS AIRPORT CORPORATION BILL.

WAY

AS IT

ON

THE

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING TWO SCHOOLS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, MRS CHAN SAID: "IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I DON'T THINK THERE IS PWC ANY QUESTION OF US SENDING OFFICIALS TO BEIJING TO EXPLAIN TO THE ABOUT THE AIRPORT CORPORATION BILL.

MRS CHAN NOTED THAT THERE WAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION TO DEAL WITH TRANSITIONAL MATTERS UNDER THE JLG.

"IN THE CASE OF THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE SET UP UNDER THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. WE ALSO HAVE THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALSO HAS ITS OWN SPECIALIST SUB-COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH ALL AIRPORT MATTERS, MRS CHAN SAID.

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"THESE ARE FORMAL CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WHICH BOTH SOVEREIGN POWERS HAVE AGREED SHOULD BE SET UP TO DEAL WITH AIRPORT MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE AIRPORT.

"I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY NEED TO ESTABLISH YET ANOTHER CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION. INDEED, TO DO SO WOULD I THINK BE, FIRST OF ALL, VERY CONFUSING TO HONG KONG PEOPLE AND WILL BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE IN SO FAR AS ACHIEVING A SMOOTH TRANSITION IS CONCERNED.

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ASKED TO RESPOND TO REMARKS BY THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG AND PING ON THE MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE UNDER CHINA'S STATE COUNCIL, MR LU STATUS OF HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENT, MRS CHAN SAID: "THE

WHO IS QUESTION OF

A PERMANENT HONG KONG RESIDENT AND WHO HAS A

WE RESIDENT STATUS IS A MATTER THAT

HAVE RAISED

THE WITH ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

CHINESE

WE

"WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS. THESE DISCUSSIONS

THAT BEEN VERY USEFUL AND ARE CONTINUING AND WE ARE HOPEFUL WOULD BE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE VERY SOON."

HAVE

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