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P.J. Williamson
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HKA 431 / 393/6
2.012: 1979
14
1020 :GOVERNOR:
BY PAUL MAJENDIE
ND
HONG KONG MARCH 20, REUTER - HONG KONG GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE HAS HAD HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL, 1980, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
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THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE SIR MURRAY LEAVES ON A HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA--THE FIRST OFFICIAL INVITATION EVER EXTENDED BY COMMUNIST CHINA TO A GOVERNOR OF THIS BRITISH COLONY. SIR MURRAY, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HONG KONG GOVERNORS OF RECENT YEARS: WAS DUE TO LEAVE IN AUGUST AFTER SERVING ALMOST EIGHT YEARS IN THE POST.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HISEXTENDED STAY IS CERTAIN TO BE WARMLY APPLAUDED IN HONG KONG, WHERE HE HAS PRESIDED OVER A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF THE COLONY'S SOCIAL SERVICES.
SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE STEADILY IMPROVED THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE OF OFFICE WITH HONG KONG PLAYING A ROLE IN FORGING THAT SOLID TMRELATIONSHIP.
MORE PRN/JW
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1022 :GOVERNOR 2 HONG KONG:
SIR MURRAY'S CHINA INVITATION CAME FROM CHINESE FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER LI XIANG (LI CHIANG) AND WAS ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. A SIGNIFICANT GESTURE FROM A GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS ALWAYS VIEWED THIS BRITISH COLONY AS CHINESE TERRITORY UNDER TEMPORARY FOREIGN ADMINISTRATION.
THE GOVERNOR IS TO VISIT CANTON AND PEKING DURING HIS 12-DAY ISIT AND HE WILL BE KEEN TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT ROLE HONG KONG NIGHT PLAY IN CHINA'S AMBITIOUS MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES.
SIR MURRAY, THE FIRST CAREER DIPLOMAT TO BECOME GOVERNOR OF IG KONG, IS LARGELY LEFT A FREE HAND BY LONDON TO RUN THE COLONY. THE WAY HE WANTS TO AND HE HAS ACHIEVED MAJOR SUCCESSES IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, HOUSING AND LABOUR LEGISLATION.
HIS BEGGEST HEADACHE NOW IS TRYING TO FIND A FORMULA FOR +TURNING OFF THE TAP+ OF IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, WHICH TOPPED 100,000 LAST YEAR. HE IS EXPECTED TO RAISE THE PROBLEM WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS ON HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT THERE.
REUTER PRM/JW
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