XN000022-1996-05-09 — Page 2

-

1

Governor to meet President Clinton

The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, will meet President Clinton tomorrow (May 9, Washington time) at the White House.

It will be followed by a breakfast meeting between the Governor and the Secretary of State Warren Christopher on the final day of Mr Patten's visit to Washington DC.

During the meetings, Mr Patten is expected to set out Hong Kong's views on the issue of MFN and trade and to brief both Mr Christopher and Mr Clinton on the territory's current position in the transition to Chinese sovereignty.

Today (May 8, Washington time), the Governor had a full day of appointments on Capitol Hill and speaking engagements.

He met presumptive Republican presidential nominee Senator Bob Dole and members of the Republican Leadership, including House Republican Leader Dick Armey; members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and two House Committees: the International Relations Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.

His day began with a breakfast meeting with members of prominent US think tanks, including representatives from The Heritage Foundation, the US Institute of Peace, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institute and the National Intelligence Council.

At lunch time, he gave a keynote speech to 200 members of the National Press Club, and in the evening he addressed the 50th anniversary annual dinner of the Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Media appointments were also included in Mr Patten's programme for the day, including an editorial board meeting with the Washington Post and a live television interview with CNN.

Following the meetings with the Secretary of State and the President tomorrow, the Governor will address a meeting of leading US journalists organised by the Freedom Forum, and meet Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin,

Before departing for a two-day visit to Seattle and returning to Hong Kong, Mr Patten will give three media interviews.

End