XN000022-1994-01-17 — Page 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1994

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UPHOLD PRESS FREEDOM, GOVERNOR URGES

IF HONG KONG IS TO REAP THE SUBSTANTIAL RCONOMIC BENEFITS GENERATED THROUGH THE INFORMATION REVOLUTION, ITS GOVERNMENT, ITS PRESS AND ITS PEOPLE MUST STAND UP FOR PRESS FREEDOM HERE, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.

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**WE MUST ALL WORK TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT THE HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TOLD THE AUDIENCE AT THE INAUGURATION OF FREEDOM FORUM ASIAN CENTRE THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.

A

PATTEN MR

SAID THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS OF ATTEMPTS TO EXERT BACKDOOR PRESSURE ON THE PRESS AND THE MEDIA HERE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMBER OF REPORTS OF SELF-CENSORSHIP.

PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE PRESS HERE BE LESS FREE AFTER 1997, HE ADDED.

MAY

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND HE PRESS FREEDOM UP HILL AND DOWN DALE.

WOULD HIMSELF

DEFEND

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS REVIEWING AND AMENDING MUCH OF ITS LEGISLATION,

THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORDINANCES ON BROADCASTING AUTHORITY, TELEVISION AND SO ON, TO ENSURE THAT THEY NOT, IN ANY WAY, INFRINGE ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

H HE SAID.

"BUT WE RELY ON THE PRESS TO DO THEIRS AS WELL,

ULTIMATELY, THE DAY-TO-DAY GUARDIANS OF PRESS FREEDOM ARE

THEMSELVES

THE THE REPORTERS,

NEWS PRACTITIONERS

EDITORS, PROPRIETORS WHO WORK FOR AND OWN THE HONG KONG PRESS, HE SAID.

-

DID

THE

THE

"THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DEPEND ON YOU TO GET THEM THE NEWS, TELL THEM IT STRAIGHT, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR.

TO

"THEY

LIFE

BY

RELY ON YOU TO STAND UP FOR HONG KONG'S WAY OF STANDING UP FOR YOUR RIGHT TO DO YOUR JOB EFFECTIVELY," MR PATTEN SAID.

TICKING ON

AS NEEDED BEFORE IT AS

HE SAID IF THE HONG KONG CLOCK WAS TO CARRY SMOOTHLY AND ACCURATELY AS IT DID TODAY, THEN HONG KONG PEOPLE TO STAND UP FOR PRESS FREEDOM NOT JUST AFTER 1997, BUT WELL.

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