SWB
FE/6240/C1/3
9 Oct 79
necessary laws and regulations are made, our procedure is to sign contracts with foreign companies and have the contracts cleared by the government to give them legal authority.
Nigel Wade of the London 'Daily Telegraph' asked: Mr Prime Minister, we în Europe do not know you very well. Could you tell us something about your wife and family?
[A] People in Europe do not know very much about me. Not long ago I had an interview with the British author, Mr Felix Greene, and I mentioned some of my personal matters. I also told him that our Party stresses collective leadership. I am not very keen on publicizing my personal life, because this will create inconveniences for my family, particularly my children, in their work and public activity. So I am not going to discuss these matters today.
Philip short of the BBC asked: You said that no one in China, no matter who they are, is above the law. Are you going to put the gang of four on trial and if so when?
[A] We have been stressing socialist legality and our laws in these fields have been adopted by the National People's Congress. That is why we say everyone is equal before the law. The gang of four committed very grave crimes which will have to be settled. We will deal with them in the due process of law. As to when this will take place, I can say that it probably won't be too far off. I can tell our journalist friends that we will not deal with the gang of four in the way they maltreated others. We will not sentence them to death. They are now alive and well.
Christopher Noel Pritchett of Reuters asked: What assurances can you give us that the status quo of Hongkong would be maintained after the year 2000?
[A] China's position with regard to the Hongkong question has been very clear. When Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping met with the Governor of Hongkong, he reiterated our attitude. Currently, our relations with the UK and with the British authorities in Hongkong are quite good. As to questions relating to Hongkong, Kowloon and the New Territories, we think that a good way of settling the question can be sought through consultations. But I think regardless of how the matter is settled, we will take notice of the interests of the investors there.
Pier Luigi Zanatta of the ANSA news agency of Italy asked: The Italian CP is the largest communist party in Western Europe. Some of its representatives recently visited China, for the first time in many years. What is China's position towards that party and the other parties that have gone in for Euro-communism? Do you intend to establish relations with the Italian CP and with the French and Spanish CPs?
[A] There have been some ordinary contacts between the Italian CP and us. Some of their people have come to China for a visit. European communism is a question that has been much talked about. It is a complex question that cannot be covered in a few sentences. I am going to the four West European countries on an official visit, so I do not intend to discuss this topic at present.
Piero Ostellino of the Italian paper 'Corriere della Sera' asked: Recently people have talked a lot about dialogue between China and the Vatican. What are the prospects for the relations between the two countries? Do you intend to meet the Pope this time?
[A] There are no contacts between China and the Vatican. I am going to Italy on an official visit. I have no plan whatsoever of meeting with people in the Vatican, the Pope or other personnel from there. I want to add that the Vatican still have relations with the Kuomintang in Taiwan, which has a so-called ambassador there. In these circumstances, we cannot consider coming into any contact with the Vatican.
Pier Luigi Zanatta of the ANSA news agency asked: Does China plan to teach a second lesson to Vietnam?