XN000022-1996-01-18 — Page 4

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Governor: It would be astonishing were it so, not least because I shall be here until the 30th of June 1997. Where else in the world, dealing with what great problems elsewhere in the world, do some people refuse to talk to others. Frankly it is not a very sensible way of behaving. And I don't think it is in Hong Kong's best interests. I don't think it is in China's best interests either. I think that great nations and the governments of great nations have dialogue with people over the years.

Question: Do you think there will still be absence of dialogue until the day you have left Hong Kong?

Governor: That would be to China's and Hong Kong's considerable disadvantage. And those who were responsible for that lack of dialogue would have to explain themselves. Thank you very much.

End

Report on 1995 LegCo general election published

The Government has made public the report submitted by the Boundary and Election Commission (BEC) on the 1995 Legislative Council general election held on September 17 last year, a government spokesman said today (Thursday).

In accordance with the BEC Ordinance, the commission submitted its report on the LegCo general election to the Governor on December 15 last year.

"The report reviews the LegCo elections and makes a number of proposals for improving the electoral arrangements," the spokesman said.

"In line with past practice, the Government has decided to make the report public.'

The spokesman added that upon the advice of BEC, sections of the report which are the subject of election petitions currently under the consideration by the court are not published until after the petitions have been determined.

"This is to avoid prejudicing the relevant judicial proceedings," he said.

Among its recommendations, BEC has proposed to make use of the census and by-census to assist in the verification and updating of the voter register.