11
Mr. Stewart: 1997.
No, I am not going to mako prophosios about
that ono.
Mr. Port: Could wo havo, Sir, in your assessment, the present
stato of Anglo-Chineso rolations.
Mr. Stewart: Woll, I think wo can notice first of all thoro's bom
a docidod improvement in oconomic relations in the growth in the volume of
our trade, that wo find political rolations on a more satisfactory basis than
thoy woro (this is a comparativo torm ) and we still have to romcrbor a number
both of United Kingdom subjects and Hong Kong subjects who wero detained, as
far as wo can soo, without any valid reason.
Nonetheless I'm glad to notico
that rocantly we've not only had tho release of some of our United Kingdom
subjects, but vory recently indood a number of Hong Kong citizens have bọc
rotumod. So, I say, cautiously, that things have been rather more satisfactory
rocantly than thoy woro somo timo ago and I think wo must both hope, Unitod
Kingdom and Hong Kong, that this continuos.
Mr. Port: Sir, can you give us any indication when Hong Kong will
know who tho noxt governor will be
going to bo
but
bo announced
olcction?
Mr. Stewart: Now, you tall mo when the next elections in Britain is
or soriously, this is not a decision that wo shall
dalay for long, and I do understand that thoro is a goral foaling horo that
you do want to know what our decision is going to be, and you don't want to bo
kept waiting vory long for it. So, I think I may safely chance there on and
say it would be before the British general aloctions.
Mr. Ma Mr. Stowart, oarlier this year the editor of the Financial
Timos of London said horo that with Britain's improvod cconomic situation, sho
will play a groat or part in this part of the world than it was considered
possible a year or two ago. What is your opinion on that?
/Mr. Stowart
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