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03457
MDHOAN 069.
Q5.
WILL YOU BE LOOKING PARTICULARLY CLOSELY AT THE POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF SOME MEASURE OF DIRECT ELECTION TO LEGCO, SINCE THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD FOLLOWING THE GREEN PAPER IN MAY
IS NOW COMING TO AN END?
A5.
WILL WISH TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CURRENT REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. BUT YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT, WITH SURVEY STILL UNDER WAY, SHALL BE TAKING NO DECISIONS ON OUTCOME OF REVIEW AT THIS STAGE.
Q0.
WHAT IS YOUR READING OF VARIOUS PRONOUNCEMENTS BY PEKING SPOKESMEN ON THE DESIRABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF A PROCESS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS?
A6.
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT ON REPORTS OF STATEMENTS BY CHINESE OFFICIALS. BELIEVE THEY HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION CLEAR. WE HAVE MADE OURS CLEAR ALSO: THAT THE CURRENT REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS A GENUINE REVIEW ON WHOSE OUTCOME WE HAVE NO PRECONCEIVED VIEWS.
Q7.
WITH PEKING DUE TO PUBLISH ITS BASIC LAW FOR THE HONG KONG OF POST-1997 NEXT YEAR, HOW WOULD YOU REPLY TO THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO BELIEVE THAT PEKING'S WISHES ARE REGARDED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE?
A7.
UNDER PROVISIONS OF JOINT DECLARATION. WE REMAIN FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION UP TO 3U JUNE 1997, AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE'S VIEWS IN DISCHARGING THAT RESPONSIBILITY. MEANWHILE WE AND CHINESE SIDE ARE BOUND BY JOINT DECLARATION TO CO OPERATE CLOSELY IN ENSURING MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, AND THIS BOTH SIDES ARE NOW DOING. (SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN) UNDER TERMS OF JOINT DECLARATION, BASIC LAW WILL STIPULATE POLICIES LAID DOWN IN JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES. NOW BEING DRAFTED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE, A CONSULTATION PROCESS WHICH WE WELCOME. (SQUARE BRACKETS END).
Q8.
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FEARS WERE EXPRESSED EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE PUBLIC ORDER BILL, WHICH MADE IT AN OFFENCE TO PUBLISH NEWS LIKELY TO CAUSE ALARM. HAVE THOSE FEARS BEEN GROUNDLESS? A8.
AWARE THAT SUCH FEARS WERE EXPRESSED AT TIME.
UNNECESSARY. LEGISLATION PASSED ON 11 MARCH IN HONG KONG REPRESENTED A VERY CONSIDERABLE LIBERALISATION IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS POSITION. HONG KONG BEFORE AND SINCE MARCH HAS CONTINUED TO POSSESS ONE OF MOST VIGOROUS AND OUTSPOKEN PRESS COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. HOPE THAT THIS REMAINS SO, AND CONFIDENT IT
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