XN000022-1994-10-12 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994

AWARD OF FRANCHISES NOT TO BE DECIDED BY POLITICAL FACTORS

THE GOVERNMENT WILL GO ON ATTEMPTING TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HONG KONG AND WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WHATEVER THE PRESSURES AND WHATEVER THE CRITICISMS, ALLOW THE AWARD OF FRANCHISES AND GRANTS TO BE DETERMINED BY POLITICAL RATHER THAN ECONOMIC FACTORS, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

TERMINAL 9

RESPONDING TO MEDIA QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTAINER AFTER HIS VISIT TO THE YAU TSIM MONU DISTRICT, MR PATTEN SAID: "WE NEED TO DEVELOP OUR CAPACITY IN THE PORT IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH, AND IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PORT SERVING THE WHOLE OF SOUTHERN CHINA WHICH THE ECONOMIC, REVOLUTION IN THE REGION DEMANDS.

"SO THE SOONER WE CAN GET ON WITH THINGS IN A WAY WHICH DOESN'T UNDERMINE INVESTORS' CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG THE BETTER."

ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE REMARKS OF AN OFFICIAL OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE THAT THE PROBLEM ON THE AIRPORT ISSUE, WOULD BE RESOLVED VERY SOON, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THERE ISN'T VERY MUCH DIVIDING THE TWO TEAMS OF NEGOTIATORS, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN VERY MUCH FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

"OBVIOUSLY, THE SOONER WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, AND THE SOONER WE HAVE AGREEMENT ON THE PARTICULAR FINANCING. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND THE MTRC FOR THE RAILWAY, THE SOONER WE HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS IN PLACE THE BETTER.

ON THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATURE PROPOSED BY THE PRELIMINARY WORKING COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR DID NOT THINK THAT IT WAS UNDERMINING THE BRITISH AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG.

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"THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS, PROPOSALS WHICH ENTIRELY IN LINE NOT ONLY WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION BUT ALSO IN WITH THE BASIC LAW," MR PATTEN SAID.

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"I AM SURE THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS WILL WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN LINE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW.

"IF ANYONE WISHES TO DISRUPT THOSE ARRANGEMENTS, THEY WILL HAVE. TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY HÊRE IN HONG KONG WHY THAT IS NECESSARY AND WHY IT HELPS STABILITY AND THE SMOOTH TRANSITION."

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