XN000022-1994-12-09 — Page 7

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CS: We feel that members of the legal profession should concentrate chiefly on the technical and legal aspects of the bill. This is the main purpose of the consultation with the legal profession.

Question: Has the administration stated........... clearly at the outset?

CS: I don't think we need to state clearly. I think members of the legal profession are quite well aware of the aspects on which we very much would like to have their views, from the legal practitioners' point of view.

Question: Then, which party within............?

CS: I think that's all. Next question.

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Question: Mrs Chan, how do you react to Chinese ....... mention that there be the setting up a provisional legislature and will that assure that Hong Kong will not have a legal vacuum?

CS: It appears to me that Mr Qian Qichen's concern is to avoid confusion and to have a through train in the legislature. This is, of course, very much our wish too to have a through train in the legislature. In our view, elections to the legislature next year are fully in accordance with the Basic Law and the Joint Declaration and we see no reason why those elected into the legislature in 1995 should not ride the through train. The best way of avoiding confusion and providing certainty both to the community of Hong Kong and to the international investing public is precisely to have continuity in the legislature.

End/Friday, December 9, 1994

Interim arrangement on patient cards reached

An interim arrangement on a without prejudice basis was reached today (Friday) between Dr Patrick Shiu Kin-ying and the Inland Revenue Department in relation to the patient cards held by the department.

Under the arrangement, these cards which had previously been held in sealed containers are to be copied, as from today, under the supervision of Dr Shiu or his authorised representative.