INDE CURNIJJION
DJC 040 ZOTU
LORD
CAITHNESS: I THINK THAT THE RULES ARE CLEAR ON R AS I UNDERSTAND, AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL ... PROPRIATE ACTION WHERE NECESSARY.
THIS, AS TAKE THE
TO
IF
WE
PAUL HARRINGTON, HONG KONG STANDARD: CAN I TAKE YOU BACK 1991
BACK TO THE FUTURE? IF THE ELECTIONS ARE A SUCCESS, AGREE THAT THEY ARE ALL A SUCCESS, THEN WHAT EXACTLY WILL YOU BE ASKING BEIJING FOR? IS THERE A FIGURE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS INCREASE BY, FOR EXAMPLE?
LORD CAITHNESS: I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC FIGURE IN MIND AT THE MOMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE AGREEMENT IS THAT BY 1997 THERE WILL BE TWENTY DIRECT-ELECTED SEATS. WE WOULD SEEK ΤΟ NEGOTIATE AN
INCREASE ON THAT.
PAUL HARRINGTON: BUT YOU WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE WAS AN OPTIMUM NUMBER FOR 1995?
STAGE.
LORD CAITHNESS: I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG TO SPECULATE AT THIS
HUMPIIREY HAWKSLEY:
THE CHINESE OFFICIAL MEDIA
REPORTED
See
YESTERDAY THAT ON TUESDAY, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN GUANGDONG next
EXECUTED SIXTY-FOUR PEOPLE. THAT'S JUST ACROSS THE BORDER AND IT'S A MASS-EXECUTION OF EXTREME PROPORTIONS. GIVEN THE CONCERN ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY HERE, COULD YOU COMMENT ON THOSE EXECUTIONS?
LORD CAITHNESS: I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR ME TO INTERFERE WITH WHAT ANOTHER COUNTRY IS DOING.
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ABOUT BILL
HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY: COULD YOU THEN, PERHAPS, EXPAND THAT TO TALK THE CONCERN ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY NOT BEING DROPPED FROM THE OF RIGHTS OR THE BASIC LAW HERE? THE DEATH PENALTY WILL STILL BE IN LAW WHEN HONG KONG IS HANDED-OVER TO CHINA IN 1997.
LORD CAITHNESS: AT THE MOMENT IT WILL BE.
HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY: ANY PLANS TO CHANGE IT?
LORD CAITHNESS: NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
HUMPHREY HAWKSLEY: AND NO CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT THE MASS- EXECUTIONS IN CHINA?
LORD CAITHNESS: THERE WILL BE CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY, AND I WILL NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE FUTURE.
STEVE GLAIN, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: YOU MENTIONED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SIT DOWN WITH CHINA AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE AND THE AIRPORT, TO CLEAR UP ANY MISUNDERSTANDING. IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT, WHY WEREN'T THE CHINESE CONSULTED ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES BEFORE THEY WERE ANNOUNCED?
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