XN000022-1994-04-07 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1994

DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS ON XI YANG'S CASE

**

THE GOVERNMENT HAD ASKED THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN APPROACH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THEM TO CONFIRM OR RECENT REPORTING IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ABOUT ΧΙ YANG'S SENTENCING, THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, MRS ANSON CHAN, (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON,

BEIJING

TO

TO CORRECT TRIAL AND SAID THIS

MA BRIDGE KONG AND

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HER VISIT TO THE TSING WORK SITE, MRS CHAN SAID AS XI YANG WAS A RESIDENT IN HONG WORKED FOR A LOCAL NEWSPAPER, BOTH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS WERE NATURALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT HE HAD RECEIVED.

"THERE HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD DISMAY IN RESPONSE TO THE TREATMENT MAPPED OUT TO XI YANG AND PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, NEWSPAPER REPORTERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING, I MIGHT SAY, SIX HONG KONG ADVISERS, HAVE ALL EXPRESSED CONCERN, 1+ MRS CHAN SAID.

"SOME OF THEM HAVE INDEED REQUESTED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, FIRST OF ALL, TO ISSUE AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT ON THE TRIAL OF ΧΙ YANG AND THE REASONS FOR THE VERY HEAVY SENTENCE.

"SECONDLY, THEY HAVE REQUESTED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO ISSUE CLEAR GUIDELINES SO THAT REPORTERS WORKING IN CHINA CAN ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THESE REGULATIONS.

"THIRDLY, SOME OF THEM HAVE REQUESTED THAT IF MR XI APPEALS, HIS APPEAL SHOULD BE DEALT WITH LENIENTLY.

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YANG

MRS CHAN SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANY PEOPLE IN HONG

KONG WOULD ECHO THESE SENTIMENTS,

"WE

HAVE MANY REPORTERS GOING ABOUT THEIR LEGITIMATE BUSINESS IN CHINA. THEY NEED TO KNOW CLEARLY WHAT THE RULES ARE, GOVERNING NEWSPAPER GATHERING IN CHINA SO THAT THEY CAN ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THESE RULES," SHE ADDED.

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