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"In pursuing those talks we are very conscious of the need to be aware of what the people of Hong Kong want." People here had plenty of opportunity to express views and they were indeed expressing them. "Anybody who wishes to have a public forum for his views. can find it in the press and I read it every day in the press." He also noted that there were a lot of people here who did not wish to express their views so publicly. They had many channels through which they made them known to the Government which was very open to them. The Governor also noted that the Executive Council was listening very carefully to what people had to say and these views were conveyed carefully back to the
British Government.
The Governor did not expect the outcome of the British general election to affect the declared aim of the UK to find a settlement in the Sino-British talks acceptable to China, Britain and the people of HK, nor did he expect the election campaign to affect progress of the talks.
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On speculation about his participation in the talks, the Governor said he knew there were all sorts of stories around about whether he would be acceptable or unacceptable. There was no substance to those stories and he would definitely go to Beijing this year.
He said the future of HK was the biggest issue with which he deait and he gave it priority because he thought it was the priority issue for HK, but it was not his only task. He was very closely in touch with and very closely involved in the Government of this territory. Quite apart from the future, there were two things he needed to do; one was to ensure that the programmes which had been launched were carried out; and secondly, we were thinking about where we were going from here.
The Governor said the best thing for people to do was not to look at details of what might happen. The people of HK were looking for a continuation of the lifestyle they enjoyed which was a freedom to come and go and to do their own thing, and they were looking for an assurance of continuity. (Full transcript of the interview is attached).
Editorials:
Twelve papers carried editorials on the Governor's interview, but the two leading left-wing dailies, Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao, have so far not commented editorially.
Ming Pao said the Governor's view of what the people of HK wanted comprehensively demonstrated that he totally understood the aspirations of local residents. What we treasured was what Sir Edward called "a freedom to come and go and to do their own thing"; and a continuation of lifestyle which would not be affected by the changeability of policies or a political struggle among factions. HK people wanted individual freedom and rights safeguarded by laws and an established system, not by empty words such as "HK people governing HK".
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