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(c)

10 -

The power of the Police to use barriers to cordon off the area outside the Xinhua News Agency is incidental to the exercise of the legal powers set out in (a) above. The boundaries for such area will depend on the size and mood of the crowds, the geographical characteristics of the site, the traffic and pedestrian flow, and the special circumstances of each event. In carrying out their duties, the Police always seek to strike a balance between the rights of the demonstrators, and on this occasion those of the two different groups which were conducting processions almost at the same time, to express their views, and the need to ensure that no danger or inconvenience is caused to others.

HK continues to support renewal of China's MFN status

Following is a question by the Hon Paul Cheng Ming-fun and a reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legsilative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Bearing in mind the potential for serious damage to Hong Kong that may arise from any economic or other dispute between the territory's two largest trading partners, any instability in the Sino-US relations will be of grave concern to the business community in the territory. With the question of China's most-favoured- nation (MFN) trade status in the US still subject to annual review, and with the US Administration under renewed pressure at home to link economic issues to human rights and other non-trade issues through MFN or other platforms, will the Government inform this Council what specific measures are being planned by the Government this year to minimize the territory's exposure to this risk?

Reply:

The Hong Kong Government continues to support the unconditional renewal of China's MFN status. We believe that MFN is the normal basis for international trade and that trade should be separated from non-trade issues. Unconditional MFN is important to Hong Kong, China and the United States.