24-APR-1992 18:32
JAMES LEE
FOREIGN SECRETARY
P.84
INTERVIEW
ITN LONDON
-
24 APRIL 1992
3
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
By presiding over the preparation of the hand-over of Hong Kong in
1997 in a way which protects the interests of Hong Kong and earns
the respect of people in Hong Kong.
INTERVIEWER:
It has not been a universally popular appointment within Hong Kong
itself though there is a movement there for more democracy. Would
you like to see Mr. Patten pushing that process along more
quickly?
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
of course, we have
He will want to judge that very carefully.
made progress. We made progress last year. We have now got the
first directly-elected members of the Legislative Council and we
want to discuss with the Chinese how to carry that forward because
obviously at the next elections in 1995 one will want the people
elected then to go on and serve after 1997,
INTERVIEWER:
Isn't it rather strange appointing a man who has always abided by
the ballot box, his very availability for the job? You are
appointing him to an unelected position with virtually
untrammelled powers.