pago
Q. Do you feel that these people who are making certain noises in the UK have to exert some influence on the British government
G. The British govemment certainly has to take account of what they say in that it has to answer them but provided the Hong Kong government follows the policies
which I have announced there is a very good answer to such criticism.
Q.
you say that some people are hostile to the Hong Kong government or to Hong Kong's policies. Could you tell us who these people are, sir?
g. Oh no, I don't think I am going to name a top twenty.
Q.
World you name
their assocications ?
G I don't think this serves any useful purpose. Obviously some are hostile
they are a small minority.
Q. You're not serious, Sir?
G. I am serious.
Q. No I said 'they' are not serious.
G. Oh, 'they' are not serious. Well I have always bowed to your views. Q. (indistinct) United Nations...
what
(indistinct)
can you give us some idea of
they were there.
precavas
G. Well if I could refer you to my speech to Legislative Council - Q. (indistinct,) G. Oh I see. No there is complete misunderstanding - there is nothing new at all. Q. Going back to the previous question, sir, in view of the vicarious majority of Mr Callaghan, would you care to tell me about the views of the
left wing tribune group in Parliament who recently put forward a motion in parliament I think signed by upwards of 70 members
Hong Kong labour
legislation and social welfare legislation
G. This is rather the sort of thing I was referring to. There was an early day motion as you say signed by a certain number of people. There was subsequently another early day motion which is highly complimentary to Hong Kong signed by
a great many more people. Incidentally, /the first group the critical group -
very few have visited Hong Kong. I think only two had come under government auspices and I would not like to say just how many, I certainly know af about six who had been there may have been more, but I am not quite sure. But to put this in perspective for you during the last session of Parliament there were 701 early day motions tabled and I am doubtful if any of them resulted in a debate. This is a parliamentary technique for simply putting forward a point of view. It is not govemment-inspired and it is not in any way a reflection
of govemment views.
Q. So you don't think, sir, that these two motions were
discussed in Parliament.
about
to be
G. I don't know, but early day motions very seldom are. It is not impossible. Q. Sir, while you were in Britain, Mr Healy in his mini budget announced further
cuts in Britain's defence spending. Was there any effect at all on the garrison
here.
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