XN000022-1994-03-11 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1994

HK TO STAY ON EDGE OF ECONOMIC WAVE: GOVERNOR

HONG KONG, BY ITS OWN EFFORTS, HAS RISEN TO THE CREST OF THE ECONOMIC WAVE SWEEPING THROUGH THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

"IF WE DO OUR WORK WELL, HONG KONG HAS THE CAPACITY TO STAY ON THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE WAVE FOR DECADES TO COME, SERVING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA AND THE REGION IN THE WAY THAT NEW YORK OR CHICAGO SERVED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES A CENTURY AGO, MR PATTEN SAID.

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HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE TOPIC: "COUNTDOWN TO 1997: HONG KONG'S ROADMAP то CONTINUED PROSPERITY" AT A LUNCHEON OF THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW CONFERENCE.

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THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THE THREE YEARS AND BEYOND, HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN STABLE AND

PROSPEROUS.

"BUT WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED IS FAR MORE THAN JUST STABILITY PROSPERITY," HE SAID.

AND

MR PATTEN ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO WORK DAY AND NIGHT WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO RESOLVE THE MANY ISSURS ON WHICH IT COULD ONLY PROCEED BY AGREEMENT.

"NONE OF THESE ISSUES IS INTRINSICALLY INSOLUBLE," HE SAID.

HE HOPES THAT THE AIRPORT FINANCING WOULD VERY SOON BE ABLE то NOTCH UP AGREEMENT.

MR PATTEN ALSO SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO BE ELECTED NEXT YEAR WOULD GO ON LEGISLATING RESPONSIBLY AND AUTONOMOUSLY ABOUT BUDGETS, TRAFFIC AND LIFTS; ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT BUILDING MANAGEMENT, CRIME AND COUNTRY PARKS; DEBATING MOTIONS ON EDUCATION, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

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IMPORTANT

HAVE NO DOUBT EITHER, THAT ABOVE THESE ISSUES THOUGH THEY ARE ITS HIGHEST PRIORITY WILL BE TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION BY HELPING HONG KONG, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE THE UK, TO WORK WITH CHINA TO RESOLVE THE DIFFICULTIES AHEAD."

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AFTER ALL, HE SAID, THE LEGCO THEN, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, WILL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE 97 PER CENT OF THEM

CHINESE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE A SMOOTH TRANSITION ΤΟ CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, A TRANSITION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HOLD ON TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE; TO HOLD ON TO THEIR ABILITY TO CHOOSE FREELY AND FAIRLY WHO REPRESENTS THEM; TO HOLD ON TO THE RULE OF LAW THAT SAFEGUARDS THEIR PROSPERITY, HE SAID.

"AND ONE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE AN EVEN GREATER CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA IN THE NEXT CENTURY," HE ADDED.

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