XN000022-1995-07-05 — Page 2

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Governor to visit London later this month

The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, hopes to pay a short visit to London later this month to brief the new British Foreign Secretary on Hong Kong issues.

This was disclosed by the Governor when he spoke to the media after visiting the Hei Ling Chau Drug Addiction Treatment Centre today (Wednesday).

"I am hoping that I'll be able to fly back to London for a couple of days in about 10 days' or a fortnight's time to brief the new Foreign Secretary and any new ministers or officials about Hong Kong and to see any other new ministers who have responsibilities which touch on Hong Kong as well," he said.

Asked what message he would bring to London, the Governor said: "The message I'll have is that we've still got a robust economy, that we've got some problems with unemployment and consumer confidence which need to address.

"I'll also say to him that we've recently made better progress with for example the good deal on the Court of Final Appeal and with the agreement on the airport and the franchises.

"But there remains a lot of work to do on issues like right of abode and adaptation of laws and we should do everything possible to make progress in those

areas.

"I'll also say that I think the Chief Secretary's visit to Peking and the courtesy and cordiality with which she was received were an important sign and that she is much reassured by what was said to her by Qian Qichen and by Director Lu about their commitment to a successful and peaceful transition and in particular by what they said about the importance of Hong Kong's civil service to the success of the community."

End/Wednesday, July 5, 1995

The Governor welcomes the new Foreign Secretary

The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, today (Thursday) welcomed the appointment of Mr Malcolm Rifkind as Foreign Secretary.

Mr Patten said: "Mr Rifkind's appointment is good news for Hong Kong. I have known him for many years and worked with him as a Cabinet colleague.