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JF HE CONCERN EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY PROJECT. IT'S QUITE RIGHT THAT THOSE CONCERNS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND EXPRESSED VERY PLAINLY. THEY WERE EXPRESSED VERY PLAINLY TO US IN LONDON BY MEMBERS OF EXCO WHEN THEY CAME THERE. AND THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ABLE TO ASSURE MEMBERS OF EXCO THAT WE WERE FULLY AWARE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WELFARE AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERN TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THAT WE WERE CONFIDENT, IN LIGHT OF THOSE REPRESENTATIONS. THAT EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS. SO I THINK THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE HANDLING OF DAYA BAY. ARE THAT THE EXISTING MACHINERY HAS BEEN FULLY AND RIGHTLY USED TO EXPRESS AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THAT SUBJECT.
QUESTION: SIR GEOFFREY, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION CONCERNING WHETHER YOU THINK THAT THIS INCIDENT IS A
AND SETBACK ON THE EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG. 1 HAD ALSO SUMMARISED THE DIVERGENT VIEWS ON DIRECT ELECTIONS. IN CONSIDERING ELECTION, AND IN CONDUCTING THE REVIEW IN 1987 WOULD YOU ALSO CONSIDER THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE GAINED FROM THE DAYA BAY INCIDENT?
SIR GEOFFREY: WELL I THINK I'VE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
QUESTION: SIR GEOFFREY, VERY SORRY TO STAND UP FOR A THIRD TIME. BUT FIND THE EXPRESSION +TAKING OUR OPINION INTO CONSIDERATION+ RATHER ALARMING. I CAN HARDLY IMAGINE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL NOT TAKE OUR VIEWS INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT MERELY TAKING A VIEW INTO CONSIDERATION MAY MEAN - AND I'M ASKING YOU, CHECKING YOUR OPINION - I AM RIGHT TO SAY THAT EVEN IF THERE IS CLEAR PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG FOR DIRECT ELECTION IN 1988, WE MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE DIRECT ELECTION IN 1983 IF PEKING OBJECTS.
WHETHER
SIR GEOFFREY: I THINK THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT. IS TO BE FOUND IF I MERELY RE-READ TO YOU AGAIN THE SENTENCE SUMMING UP THE MEETING IN LONDON BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHERS AND EXCo LAST MONTH: +THE PRIME MINISTER REAFFIRMED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE 1987 REVIEW AND CONFIRMED THAT FULL ACCOUNT WILL BE TAKEN OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHEN DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM THE REVIEW.+ THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN STATED ON THE RECORD BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT REMAINS THE POSITION.
QUESTION: SINCE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ANSWER WHETHER YOU THINK DIRECT ELECTIONS IS SUITABLE FOR HONG KONG, WOULD YOU ANSWER A VERY GENERAL QUESTION AS TO WHETHER YOU THI THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WILL LEAD TO PIRTY POLITICS AND YOU THINK PARTY POLITITS IS TETRIMENTAL TO HONG KONG?
J
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