XN000022-1996-10-11 — Page 6

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Mr Hui said: "1997 will have been, well gone, and we shall all find that what follows after 1997 is in fact 1998 and business as usual in Hong Kong.

"We shall continue to have our own fiscal and monetary policies and systems, maintain our own reserves, our own legal system, our independent and low taxation system, our free trade policy, the Hong Kong dollar will remain freely convertible.

"All these, and much more, are enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, the international agreement and the constitution established to protect Hong Kong's unique status and high degree of autonomy after 1997 under the "one country, two systems" concept."

He said the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, afterall, would have complete autonomy in economic matters.

"It is entirely in China's national interest that Hong Kong continues to be successful as an international commercial and financial centre," he said.

Mr Hui pointed out that one area which Hong Kong attached great importance to was the building up of its international connections and continuing its involvement and participation, on its own and as a separate entity, in international bodies related to trade and finance.

He told the audience that Hong Kong had long enjoyed a close and still- strengthening relationship with Australia and Australians.

"Both Hong Kong and Australia have a constructive role to play in building bridges between communities within the region and between this region and the world trading community." he said Mr Hui.

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Suspected plague case proved negative

In response to media enquiries on the suspected plague case last (Thursday) night, a spokesman for the Department of Health said today (Friday) that the hospital had confirmed that it is not a case of plague.

End