XN000022-1995-03-03 — Page 7

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Chinese delegation to visit HK

A Chinese delegation to be led by Mr Shao Guanfu, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will visit Hong Kong from March 9 to 18 this year, a Government spokesman announced today (Friday).

There will be seven other members in the delegation. They also work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is one in a series of sponsored visits between Hong Kong and the mainland of China. The objective of the sponsored visit programme is to increase mutual understanding of Chinese and Hong Kong Government officials on each other's systems and ways of life.

The delegation will be briefed by senior Hong Kong Government officials on policies relating to the economy, trade matters, financial affairs and the civil service.

End/Friday, March 3, 1995

Transcript of Financial Secretary's remarks

Following is the transcript of the remarks made by the Financial Secretary, Sir Hamish Macleod, to reporters after attending a LegCo panel meeting this (Friday) morning:

Good morning. As you know, I have just finished a meeting with LegCo Members. I must say I am again encouraged by the meeting, I think in general the reaction to the Budget continues to be positive. There was interest to know more about a number of issues: there was some discussion, for instance, on the property market and my statement on that in the Budget; there was interest on the medium range forecast and the increased reserves. But I think I can say that no one issue sort of emerged as seriously problematic, it was more an asking for information and seeking views on the philosophy which lay behind some of the proposals. So I am generally encouraged by the meeting and I shall go on over the next few days explaining the Budget in more detail and my colleagues will join me in that.