WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1983
10
Q: +IT IS REPORTED THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITY HAS SET A DEADLINE FOR THE TALKS. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN THIS REPORT.
A +THE DEADLINE WAS THE WORD YOU WERE USING? YES, WELL I THINK THAT WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS THIS: IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN PUBLIC, I HAVE NOTICED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WANT A DEADLINE ON TALKS WE TAKE THE VIEW VERY STRONGLY THAT DEADLINES AREN'T HELPFUL, THAT YOU'VE GOT TO WORK AS HARD AND AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT THAT BY FEELING UNDER THE PRESSURE OF A DEADLINE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HELP AND COULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. AND I THINK THE BEST WAY I CAN ANSWER THAT IS TO GIVE YOU THE VIEW OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THAT'S WHAT I'M ACCOUNTABLE FOR AND THAT IS OUR VIEW.
Q: +MINISTER, CAN YOU SEE ANY POSSIBLE SHORT TERM SOLUTION SO AS TO REMOVE THE ANXIETY IN THE COMMUNITY HERE GENERALLY ABOUT THE CONCERN OVER THEIR OWN FUTURE? COULD YOU SEE ANY POSSIBLE SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEM?
At +IN THIS WORLD THERE ARE NOT OFTEN SUDDEN MAGIC WANDS THAT ANY OF US CAN WAVE, AND IN A WAY I THINK WE DO I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU'RE SAYING THAT BUT I THINK WE DO OURSELVES AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, OF THIS TERRITORY, A DISSERVICE IF WE SUGGEST THERE IS A MAGIC WAND OR AN EASY WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT WHAT I WOULD REITERATE IS THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO EASY PANACEA, NOR NO SHORT TERM PANACEA, IF PEOPLE WILL RETAIN AS I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHOWN THIS WEEK THE IR MUTUAL CONFIDENCE IF YOU LIKE, OUR MUTUAL CONFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, KEEP OUR SIGHTS ON THAT GOAL. KEEP OUR SIGHTS ON THAT NEED FOR A SOLUTION THAT IS
ACCEPTABLE, AND THAT IS OUR PURPOSE. AND IF I WANT TO LEAVE ANY IMPRESSION WITH YOU AT ALL, IT IS THAT IMPRESSION OF OUR FIRMNESS AND DETERMINATION OF PURPOSE.