XN000022-1994-12-12 — Page 2

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Governor calls on Korean President Kim

The Governor, The Rt Hon Christopher Patten, today (Monday) held an official meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea, Mr Kim Young-sam.

"The President and the Governor held good and constructive discussions about Hong Kong - Republic of Korea relationships," a spokesman for the Governor said after the meeting.

The meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, was held at the Blue House, the President's official resident in Seoul.

Visiting Seoul for the first time, the Governor began a busy round of engagements when he met with representative Cho Seung-joon, Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee of the National Assembly. His official programme ended in the evening when he was the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by Dr Han Sung-joo, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During his meeting with representative Cho Seung-joon this morning the Governor discussed with him a wide range of issues including the forthcoming establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), follow-up from the recent Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Jakarta and the liberalisation of the Korean economy, providing more opportunities for Korea and Hong Kong business.

Mr Patten also briefed representative Cho on Hong Kong economy, the role of Korean business in Hong Kong and the continuing business opportunities for Hong Kong after 1997 with the rule of law and market economy guaranteed by the Joint Declaration.

Accompanied by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), Dr Victor Fung, Mr Patten met with the Chairman of the Korean Foreign Trade Association (KFTA), Mr Koo Pyong-hwoi, before he proceeded to address a group of Korean and Hong Kong businessmen at a luncheon co-organised by TDC and KFTA as part of a Korea/Hong Kong business round table.

In his keynote address, the Governor praised the Koreans for their qualities in abundance-hard-work, self-reliance and perseverance, he noted that Koreans had a proud tradition of standing up for their rights and freedoms that they had paid a high price to defend.