XN000022-1994-05-07 — Page 2

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STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR ON

THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE

* * * * *

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1994

IS

A

STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR,

THE ᎡᎢ HON

SECRETARY,

FOLLOWING PATTEN, ON THE DEATH OF FORMER FINANCIAL BREMRIDGE:

"I

CHRISTOPHER

SIR JOHN

SIR

JOHN

WAS SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE DEATH IN ENGLAND OF BREMRIDGE. FOR MANY YEARS, SIR JOHN WAS A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY, AS A BUSINESSMAN, THROUGH HIS MEMBERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS,

AS AND, FINALLY, SECRETARY FROM 1981 TO 1986.

THE

FINANCIAL

HIS

IN

HE WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE BY THE COMMUNITY FOR WISE

YEARS, AND

STEWARDSHIP DURING THOSE OFTEN FIRM

DIFFICULT PARTICULAR FOR HIS FAR-SIGHTED DECISION TO LINK THE HONG KONG AND U.S.

FOR HIS DOLLARS IN 1983. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED ALSO WITH AFFECTION

PROMOTING HONG SENSE OF HUMOUR AND FOR HIS UNBOUNDED ENTHUSIASM FOR KONG'S INTERESTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.

SIR JOHN WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY HIS ADMIRERS IN HONG KONG.

MANY FRIENDS

AND

ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, I OFFER MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES LADY BREMRIDGE AND HER FAMILY."

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IMPORTANCE OF MFN RENEWAL EMPHASISED TO NEW YORK AUDIENCE

TO

WITHDRAWAL OF MOST FAVOURED NATION (MPN) STATUS FOR CHINA WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO HONG KONG, TO THE UNITED STATES AND MOST OF ALL THOSE IT IS MEANT TO HELP: THOSE IN THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE IN CHINA, THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER TO THE UNITED STATES, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID IN A SPEECH IN NEW YORK ON THURSDAY (MAY 5) NIGHT.

MR WIGGHAM TOLD A CAPACITY MEETING OF THE OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB IN NEW YORK THAT THE ECONOMIC FALL OUT TO HONG KONG FOLLOWING MFN WITHDRAWAL COULD MEAN A LOSS OF UP TO US$24 BILLION IN TRADE AND SOME 75,000 JOBS OR THREE PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S WORKFORCE.

AMERICANS TOO WOULD LOSE, MR WIGGHAM SAID, WITH INCREASED COSTS IN CONSUMER GOODS AND MORE THAT $7 BILLION WORTH OF U.S. EXPORTS TO CHINA AT RISK AND UP TO 200,000 JOBS.

WHILE ASSURING HIS AUDIENCE THAT HONG KONG SHARES THE VIEW THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE CHINA ΤΟ ABIDE BY ACCEPTED HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS, MR WIGGHAM SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE MFN ΤΟ BE AN EFFECTIVE LEVER FOR THIS.

"WE AGREE WITH THE OBJECTIVE.

THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU STAND

A BETTER CHANCE OF PERSUADING CHINA TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD BY REDUCING TRADE. BY ISOLATING CHINA AND BY CUTTING OFF CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD?" MR WIGGHAM QUESTIONED.

/"OR DO