10
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1984
QI WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE CHINESE SIDE ABOUT THE QUESTION OF ELECTIONS. AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE FLYING
WE VARIOUS KITES BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY APPEAR CONTRADICTORY. HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE MIGHT BE ELECTIONS AS LONG AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS MEET WITH PEKING'S APPROVAL, OR THAT, THROUGH JI PENG-FEI, THERE MIGHT BE A THREE-THREE STRUCTURE, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE MET WITH DISPLEASURE IN THE LEFT-WING PRESS. AND THEN THIS MORNING WE HAVE A REPORT FROM LONDON THAT, THROUGH FOREIGN OFFICE SOURCES, PEKING HAD INDICATED THAT AN APPOINTED GOVERNOR WILL BE SOMEONE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LIFESTYLE AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
NOW, WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF PEKING'S STAND ON ELECTIONS AND WHAT WEIGHT SHOULD WE GIVE ALL THESE COMMENTS?
A: WELL, WITHOUT BREAKING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONE OF MANY FACTORS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT LOOKING AT THE PERIOD BEYOND 1997. WHAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT APPEAR TO HAVE SAID THEY HAVE MADE A NUMBER OF HELPFUL REMARKS ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF THE LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND ABOUT STABILITY IN HONG KONG. WE TAKE IT THAT SOME KIND OF DEMOCRATIC EVOLUTION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG. SO, IT WOULD PROBABLY COME AS NO SURPRISE TO YOU THAT THIS KIND OF ISSUE WILL HAVE TO FEATURE LOOKING BEYOND 1997. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALREADY HAVE A PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIC EVOLUTION NOW AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE NOTED THIS WITH INTEREST.
Q: MR LUCE, YOU HAVE REFUSED TO TALK IN TERMS OF DEADLINES, CHINESE, PARLIAMENTARY OR OTHERWISE, BUT WOULDN'T YOU AGREE WITH MRS SHIRLEY WILLIAMS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH CANNOT BE RUSHED THROUGH THE UK PARLIAMENT IN ONE DAY? I AM THINKING NOW OF AN ANALOGY WITH THE CHANGES IN THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION WHICH TOOK A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
A1 FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT SHIRLEY WILLIAMS THAT I FOUGHT HER IN 1970 AND I FAILED TO DEFEAT HER IN 1970, IN HER CONSTITUENCY AND, FOR THAT REASON, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR HER. AND, INDEED, SHE IS AN OLD FRIEND. OF COURSE IT IS RIGHT THAT THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TIME FOR ASSESSMENT, AND FOR REFLECTION, FOR ABSORPTION, AND THAT INCLUDES THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, BUT WE ARE TALKING A LONG WAY AHEAD AS FAR AS THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE, AS I HAVE TOLD YOU, THEY WILL HAVE TO VOTE AT THE END OF THE DAY. HOW MANY DAYS IS GIVEN FOR THEM TO ASSESS THE DEBATE IS A MATTER FOR PARTY MANAGERS AND FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO DECIDE, BUT THAT IS A LONG WAY AHEAD. WE HAVE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FIRST AND GET THEIR VIEWS.
Q: THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE THE STAGES OF APPROVAL OF THIS BEST POSSIBLE AGREEMENT, IT SEEMS THAT BY THE TIME IT GETS TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND EVEN TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN IT, THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED ON A 'TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT' SORT OF BASIS. IS THAT THE WAY IT WILL BE?
/A: WELL, YOU