XN000022-1994-10-08 — Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1994

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NO LEGAL BASIS FOR REVERSING UC DECISION

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING SAID NEITHER THE GOVERNOR NOR HERSELF COULD SEEK TO REVERSE THE URBAN COUNCIL'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE DOUBLE TENTH CELEBRATION TO BE HELD IN THE CULTURAL CENTRE.

RESPONDING TO MEDIA QUESTIONS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE MATILDA HOSPITAL'S ANNUAL SEDAN CHAIR RACE PRIZE PRESENTATION, MRS CHAN SAID: "THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT YESTERDAY WHICH MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO LEGAL BASIS UPON WHICH EITHER THE GOVERNOR OR MYSELF CAN SEEK TO REVERSE THE DECISION MADE BY THE URBAN COUNCIL TO ALLOW THE ACTIVITY TO GO AHEAD.

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"IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW, EVERY ACT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND QUASI-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS OR STATUTORY CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE FULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW,'

ASKED TO COMMENT ON YESTERDAY'S REPORT ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO APPOINT 60 LEGISLATORS BEFORE 1997, MRS CHAN SAID: "THE COMPOSITION OF THE FIRST LEGISLATURE IN THE SAR GOVERNMENT IS VERY CLEARLY LAID OUT IN THE BASIC LAW AND WE EXPECT THOSE PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW TO BE MET AND FAITHFULLY CARRIED OUT."

ASKED ABOUT THE LIST OF ASSETS TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE SAR GOVERNMENT, MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD MADE IT QUITE CLEAR IN HIS RECENT ADDRESS THAT HONG KONG VERY MUCH WISHED TO INTENSIFY CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE..

"ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE CHINESE IS THE QUESTION OF WHAT ASSETS TO HAND OVER AND WHAT MATERIALS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WISHES TO HAVE, ON THIS AND ON OTHER MATTERS.

"WE HOPE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS IN GREATER DETAILS WITH THE CHINESE, SHE ADDED.

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TRANSCRIPT OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S MEDIA SESSION

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THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEDIA SESSION BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN, AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE MATILDA HOSPITAL ANNUAL SEDAN RACE PRIZE PRESENTATION ON TODAY (SATURDAY):

CS: MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I THOUGHT I'LL SAY A FEW WORDS. TOMORROW, I AM LEAVING ON A TWO-WEEK TRIP. I AM, FIRST OF ALL, CALLING IN TO TORONTO AND OTTAWA AND DURING THAT ONE WEEK, I SHALL BE MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ESSENTIALLY TO BRING THE HONG KONG MESSAGE TO THE CANADIANS. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EXTREMELY CLOSE TIES WITH CANADA. ON THIS OCCASION, I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT I SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MY MEETING WITH HIM. FOLLOWING THAT, I SHALL BE VISITING THREE CITIES IN THE STATES, THAT IS, NEW YORK, CHICAGO AND ATLANTA. THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF BUSINESS CONFERENCES. THERE WILL ALSO BE A FILM EXHIBITION OF HONG KONG FILMS AND I AM TAKING WITH ME ON THIS TRIP TWO OF OUR MORE FAMOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN EXHIBITION OF SOME OF OUR MORE NOTABLE HONG KONG BUILDINGS AND I SHALL, OF COURSE, BE ALSO SEEING A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARDS OF VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS I AM IN THE STATES.

WHILE

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