XN000022-1994-05-26 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1994

FOR

TO OF

MRS CHAN: I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE HAN DONGFANG CASE AND DISSIDENTS. I THINK IN HONG KONG, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN AND SAFEGUARD THE BASIC FREEDOMS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. THESE BASIC FREEDOMS INCLUDE THE FREEDOM

ONE'S VIEWS FREELY IN A PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL MANNER. EXPRESS

AND, COURSE, IT'S ENTIRELY NATURAL THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE A VIEW AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON EVENTS IN CHINA. THESE BASIC FREEDOMS ARE GUARANTEED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW AND, OF COURSE, THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER 1997. THE QUESTION

WISH OF OFFERING HOSPITALITY FOR VISITORS TO HONG KONG WHO MIGHT USE HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION IS QUITE A DIFFERENT MATTER. NEITHER

TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH SEE HONG KONG BEING USED AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION AND WE INTEND FULLY TO ABIDE BY THE CONCEPT OF "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS A TWO-WAY STREET.

פיו

0

HONG KONG SHOULD NOT BE USED AS BASE FOR SUBVERSION * * * * *

NEITHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE HONG KONG BEING USED AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION AND HONG KONG INTEND FULLY TO ABIDE BY THE CONCEPT OF "ONE COUNTRY, SYSTEMS". THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE HAN DONGFANG CASE AFTER VISIT TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, MRS CHAN SAID IN KONG, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN SAFEGUARD THE BASIC FREEDOMS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

TWO

THIS

HER

HONG AND

"THESE BASIC FREEDOMS INCLUDE THE FREEDOM ΤΟ EXPRESS ONE'S VIEWS FREELY IN A PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL MANNER, MRS CHAN SAID.

"OF COURSE, IT'S ENTIRELY NATURAL THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE A VIEW AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON EVENTS IN CHINA.

"THESE BASIC FREEDOMS ARE GUARANTEED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW AND, OF COURSE, THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER 1997."

HOWEVER, SHE EMPHASISED THAT THE QUESTION OF OFFERING HOSPITALITY FOR VISITORS TO HONG KONG WHO MIGHT WISH TO USE HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION WAS QUITE A DIFFERENT MATTER.

ASKED

TO COMMENT ABOUT DIRECTOR LU PING'S WORDS ABOUT FLEXIBILITY ON THE MAKE-UP OF THE JUDGES IN THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL,

CHAN STRESSED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DRAFTED WERE BASED ON THE AGREEMENT REACHED PREVIOUSLY WITH THE

MRS HAD CHINESE.

"WE HAVE HANDED TO THE CHINESE A COPY OF THE DRAFT BILL AND WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL REACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MRS CHAN SAID.

"WE WILL ALSO BE CONSULTING THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

"OF COURSE,