XN000022-1994-02-17 — Page 2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1994

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GOVERNOR BEGINS FINAL LEG OF AUSTRALIAN VISIT

* * * * *

THE

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON BEGAN THE FINAL STAGE OF HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO AUSTRALIA WHEN HE FLEW TO MELBOURNE FOR A FURTHER ROUND OF ENGAGEMENTS.

EARLIER IN THE DAY IN AN INTERVIEW ON MORNING TELEVISION, HE SAID THE ECONOMIC AND TRADE LINKS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND HONG KONG WERE VERY CONSIDERABLE.

MR PATTEN ADDED THAT THE BUSINESS TIES TOGETHER WITH OTHER LINKS SUCH AS STUDENTS AND TOURISM HAD LED TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING IN AUSTRALIA THAN PERHAPS IN SOME OTHER COUNTRIES OF WHAT HONG KONG WAS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT IT REQUIRED IN ORDER TO GO ON SURVIVING AS A PROSPEROUS AND FREE SOCIETY.

IN WINDING UP THE CANBERRA LEG, MR PATTEN MET THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA, MR BILL HAYDEN. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A MEETING WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE AND SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE.

DURING

THIS SESSION, THE GOVERNOR DISCUSSED A WIDE ECONOMIC AND TRADE ISSUES AND OTHER TRANSITIONAL MATTERS.

HE SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITTEE'S CONTINUED IN HONG KONG AND ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

RANGE OF

INTEREST

MR PATTEN ALSO HAD A MEETING AND WORKING LUNCH WITH SENIOR ACADEMICS OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BEFORE FLYING TO MELBOURNE.

TONIGHT HE IS GUEST OF HONOUR AT A DINNER HOSTED BY THE VICTORIAN STATE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND EMPLOYMENT, MR PHILLIP GUDE, AND ATTENDED BY A CROSS SECTION OF MELBOURNE'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

TOMORROW MR PATTEN WILL VISIT SEVERAL PROMINENT COMPANIES TRADING IN HONG KONG AND THE ASIAN REGION, AS WELL AS DELIVERING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO CEDA, THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA.

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DEPUTY TO GOVERNOR VISITS SWD

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DEPUTY то THE GOVERNOR, MRS ANSON CHAN TODAY VISITED THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) AND A CARE AND HOME FOR THE ELDERLY IN WAN CHAI.

(THURSDAY) ATTENTION

MRS CHAN WAS GREETED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR IAN STRACHAN, UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS.

SHE WAS BRIEFED BY STAFF ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

IN

SOCIAL SECURITY, MANPOWER, SERVICE QUALITY.

SERVICE EXPANSION AND

ENHANCEMENT

OF

/MRS CHAN