DINITIJO
שרד
CONTROJTUR
"040" LOTU
BETTY LIU, TVB NEWS: CAN YOU BE A BIB MORE SPECIFIC?
LORD CAITHNESS: WELL, LET US TAKE ONE INSTANCE THEN. PERHAPS THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA, WHICH IS OF CONCERN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. FRANCIS MAUDE WENT THERE IN JULY TO RE-START THE NEGOTIATIONS. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS. I HAVE TALKED TO THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR IN LONDON. THERE
WILL BE A VISIT BY MPS TO AND FROM CHINA. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HOPES ΤΟ GO BUT A DATE IS NOT FIXED AS YET. BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AREA FOR THE STABILITY AND FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND IT IS AN AREA THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO TACKLE WITH, I HOPE, MORE AUTHORITY AS A RESULT OF WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE TALKED TO ME HERE.
HARVEY PONG, WAH KIU YAT PAO: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE GOVERNMENT DISCIPLINED STAFF WHO ARE GREATLY DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR PAY REVIEW?
LORD CAITHNESS: I HAD A VERY GOOD SESSION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS AND THE DISCIPLINED STAFF THIS MORNING, IT LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. THEY PUT THEIR CASE FORCIBLY TO ME.
ME. I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER WHAT THEY HAVE SAID. BUT IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITION THAT MATTERS OF PAY AND CONDITIONS ARE SETTLED BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE SERVICES. THAT IS RIGHT, THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD CONTINUE. THERE HAS BEEN EXCO'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STANDING COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON THE POLICE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A FURTHER STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE CIVIL SIDE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE THAT WILL BE REPORTING BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IT IS BEST DEALT WITH AS IT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE SERVICES. THAT IS NOT TO SAY WE ARE DISINTERESTED, BECAUSE IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR IT IS HELPFUL FOR ME TO HAVE HEARD THE VIEWS AT FIRST HAND AND I SAID TO THE SERVICES THAT I WOULD RELAY THOSE VIEWS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THAT I WILL DO.
CLAUDIA MO, AFP: CHINA HAS SAID IT PASSPORTS ISSUED UNDER LONDON'S PASSPORT PACKAGE. ENTIRE EXERCISE LOSE ITS MEANING?
WOULD NOT RECOGNISE
WILL THAT MAKE
THE
LORD CAITHNESS: NO, THE ENTIRE EXERCISE IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY HERE TO ADD STABILITY FOR HONG KONG.
CLAUDIA MO, AFP: BUT THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO STAY HERE
LORD CAITHNESS: NO, CAN I JUST FINISH, PLEASE?
BECAUSE YOU DID
ASK ME A QUESTION AND I AM TRYING TO ANSWER IT.
THE
POSITION
IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINA WE WILL FOLLOW-UP THAT FRANCIS MAUDE CREATED IN THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN TO CHINA EXACTLY WHAT THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE IS DESIGNED TO DO AND I HOPE THAT THE CHINESE CONCERNS ABOUT IT WILL DISAPPEAR. IN FACT, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL ONCE ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT THEY HAVE WILL, THROUGH DIALOGUE, NOT BE AS APPARENT TO THEM AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY. IT IS THROUGH THAT DIALOGUE THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND, A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS, A LOT OF STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN FACT, SOLVE WHAT PORTENDS TO BE A POSSIBLY TRICKY SITUATION.
THAT
CAN,
CLAUDIA MO, AFP: WHEN DO YOU HOPE CHINA WILL FINALLY OFFICIALLY ENDORSE YOUR PASSPORT PACKAGE?
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