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Question:... your priorities for the next 12 months?

CS: My priorities. I think we want to make sure that we have as seamless a transition as possible. I'd like to ensure that all civil servants can be assured about their future, that they see a good future for themselves and that they will all feel able and willing to remain to serve the people of Hong Kong after 1997. I hope to see continued and stepped-up co-operation between the two sovereign powers in resolving the remaining transitional issues. In particular I hope that we can make better progress in some of the outstanding issues. There are still some outstanding as regards right of abode, travelling documents. We need to make better progress on the whole question of adapting laws. So I very much hope that we will see stepped-up co-operation with China in the remaining days of our transition.

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HK delegation leaves for further textiles talks with US

A Hong Kong delegation, led by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Lawrence Li, left this (Saturday) afternoon for Washington DC to continue bilateral consultations with the United States on the additional import measures imposed by the US on a number of textiles and clothing products from Hong Kong.

"The delegation will hold preparatory meetings with our Washington Office next Monday before meeting the US side on Tuesday. If necessary, we have prepared to continue with the consultations on Wednesday," a Trade Department spokesman said.

"During the consultations, we will maintain our fundamental objections to the additional measures and to the way they have been introduced.

"We will reiterate that Hong Kong always welcome co-operation with our trading partners if we think such co-operation will enhance the effectiveness of our efforts against illegal transhipment, provided that it is consistent with Hong Kong's laws and regulations and our rights and obligations under international agreements.

"We are therefore genuinely interested in discussing with the US ways in which the two sides can enhance their common efforts against illegal transhipment.