XN000022-1994-01-18 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1994

GOVERNOR: WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF JUDGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHICH OF THE PROPOSALS MAKE THE MOST SENSE IN TERMS OF DELIVERING ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE FAIR AND OPEN. WE HAVE TO SEE WHICH, (HOLD ON, CAN YOU), BUT JUST BECAUSE BOTH ARE FAIR, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU MIGHT THINK THAT ONE IS MORE FAIR OR EVEN MORE OPEN. SECONDLY, WE'LL HAVE TO REACH A DECISION ON WHICH SET OF PROPOSALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND MORE LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. WE'LL ALSO, OF COURSE, HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE SAID IN THE PAST. AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE SUPPORT WHICH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GAVE TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS THAT WE SET OUT AND THE SUPPORT WHICH WE'VE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY, ACCORDING TO MOST OPINION POLLS, FOR OUR PLANS PRETTY WELL CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND I CAN ASSURE YOU WE WILL MAKE A SENSIBLE JUDGEMENT AND ONE WHICH I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO ENDORSE IN DUE COURSE.

FAIR.

ONE MORE, THERE ARE SO MANY WHO HASN'T ASKED ONE. IT'S ONLY

QUESTION: WILL THE BRITISH SIDE SUGGEST ANOTHER DATE TO RESUME THE TALKS?

GOVERNOR: WELL, WE'VE SUGGESTED THAT THE TALKS SHOULD BB RESUMED. SINCE OUR PROPOSAL FOR TALKS ON 17 AND 18 DECEMBER WAS TURNED DOWN, WE HAVEN'T SUGGESTED OTHER DATES. BUT WE REMAIN READY TO DROP EVERYTHING AND TRAVEL TO PEKING AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, WHENEVER IT'S CONVENIENT TO THE CHINESE SIDE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THESE AND OTHER MATTERS CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH DISCUSSION. I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS RESOLVED THROUGH DISCUSSION, USING THE USUAL CHANNELS, THE CHANNELS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BOTH UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION AND UNDER THE OF UNDERSTANDING, FOR EXAMPLE THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

MEMORANDUM

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