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FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1986
Q.
FANNY WONG, ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS MR RENTON IT WAS EARLIER SUGGESTED THAT NEXT YEAR'S POLITICAL REVIEW WILL BE AN EMPTY REVIEW AND LAST NIGHT YOU ASSURED UMELCO MEMBERS THAT OUR REVIEW WILL BE A SERIOUS ONE. COULD YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW SERIOUS?
MR RENTON : I HONESTLY THINK THAT'S UP TO YOU PEOPLE IN HK TO SHOW HOW SERIOUSLY YOU TAKE IT. IT IS YOU WHO ARE GOING TO BE MAX ING THE SUGGESTIONS, AS I'VE ALREADY SAID, NOT ME. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I HAVE ADVISED THE CHINESE THAT THIS MUST BE A SERIOUS REVIEW, THAT IS WHAT WE EXPECT IT TO BE AND THE CONTENT THOUGH NOW OF WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT IS UP TO YOU, BECAUSE IT IS UP TO YOU TO COME FORWARD WITH YOUR FEELINGS, YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
HUGH DAVIES, DAILY TELEGRAPH : HOW CAN YOU GIVE GUARANTEES OF WHAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S REACTION IS GOING TO BE?
MR RENTON : OF COURSE ONE DOESN'T GIVE HYPOTHETICAL GUARANTEES ABOUT DOCUMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WRITTEN YET. IT REALLY WOULD BE ...
SAYING THAT YOU'LL HUGH DAVIES: YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE REVIEW TAKE EVERYTHING SERIOUSLY, BUT YOU STILL WON'T MAKE ANY PROMISE AS TO WHAT, TO THE PEOPLE HERE, AS TO WHAT YOU WILL DO IF THEY COME UP WITH A MAJOR AH, SOMETHING THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY UPSET THE CHINESE, SUCH AS DIRECT ELECTIONS.
MR RENTON I REALLY DON'T THINK IT IS HELPFUL OR USEFUL TO SPEND OUR TIME CHASING THE WILLOWISPS OF OVER FERTILE MINDS. THE REVIEW IS AHEAD OF THE PEOPLE OF HK. IT IS UP TO THEM TO MAKE THE IR SUGGESTIONS AND I'M SURE THE OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS WILL BE SEEKING FOR THE APPROPRIATE AVENUES FOR THOSE SUGGESTIONS TO BE CHANNELLED SO THEY CAN LISTEN TO THEM. THEY DID THIS WITH THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER THE AGREEMENT, AND THAT IS THE PROPER COURSE FOR ME TO FOLLOW, FOR HK PEOPLE TO FOLLOW, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION HERE TO FOLLOW, AND ALL OF THIS WILL BE VERY CLOSELY LISTENED TO BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. AND TO HYPOTHECATE SIR ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IF IT ... DOESN'T FIT IN, WHEN WE OURSELVES HAVE NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS, I REPEAT, FRANKLY THAT IS NOT EITHER A HELPFUL OR PRACTICAL EXERCISE.
IF IT AS
Q. DAISY LEE FROM MING PAO : JUST RECENTLY IN HK THERE HAS BEEN DIVERGENT INTERPRETATION OF SOME OF THE TERMS IN THE JOINT DECLARATION BETWEEN HK PEOPLE AND CHINESE OFFICIALS. WHY DID BRITAIN, AS A SIGNING PARTY OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, NOT TURN ROUND AND REVERSE (7) THEM?
/MR RENTON :