XN000022-1996-04-24 — Page 4

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Chief Secretary's visit to Peking

A Government spokesman announced today (Wednesday) that at the invitation of Mr Lu Ping, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mrs Anson Chan, the Chief Secretary, will visit Peking this Friday (April 26) to discuss transition-related issues.

Mrs Chan will leave Hong Kong tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon and return over the weekend.

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Transcript of Chief Secretary's media session

Following is the transcript of the remarks made to reporters by the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, at the Legislative Council Building this (Wednesday) afternoon:

CS: First of all, I'd just like to say that I'm sorry I haven't been able until this afternoon to make a formal announcement that I'm very happy to accept Director Lu's invitation to continue our discussion on transitional issues in Beijing. I should be leaving tomorrow afternoon for Beijing and I will be having discussions with Lu Ping on Friday the 26th. I hope to be able to return to Hong Kong over the weekend.

Question: Mrs Chan, are you going in a private capacity?

CS: I don't really think that is an important consideration. What the civil servants and what the people of Hong Kong wish to see is improved communication and dialogue between Chinese officials and Hong Kong officials at all levels. I had some useful discussion with Mr Lu Ping the last time when he was here and I'm delighted so soon after that meeting to be able to go again to continue our discussions. We do have a number of very important transitional issues to discuss, not least those affecting civil servants. And I'm looking forward to this discussion with Mr Lu Ping and I very much hope that we will make good progress.