2
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1987
I PLAN TO TAKE AS FOR WHEN I SHALL BE GOING TO HONG KONG. UP MY RESPONSIBILITIES IN EARLY APRIL. BEFORE THAT, STARTING STRAIGHT AWAY, I SHALL BE BRIEFING MYSELF FULLY ON ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY, AND MEETING KEY PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH HONG KONG. I KNOW THAT I'VE GOT A GREAT DEAL TO LEARN, BOTH IN THE WEEKS A HEAD, AND AFTER I TAKE UP MY RESPONSIBILITIES IN EARLY APRIL. MEANWHILE BEFORE I ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TO TAKE UP THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG REMAINS IN THE VERY CAPABLE HANDS OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES.
I THINK THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT HONG KONG FACES CHALLENGING YEARS AHEAD OF CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT THE PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT. I'VE GOT GREAT CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE. I HAVE CONFIDENCE ALSO IN THE FULL COMMITMENT OF BOTH THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. BOTH ARE CLEARLY DETERMINED TO DO THEIR UTMOST TO HELP MAINTAIN THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. FOR MY OWN PART, MY INTENTION NOW, AS I TAKE UP MY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, IS TO SERVE HONG KONG, AND ITS INTERESTS, TO THE UTMOST OF MY ABILITY, AND NOW IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS I WILL DO MY BEST TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
CHAIRMAN:
YES, PLEASE, JOHN DICKIE.
YES, PLEASE,
JOHN DICKIE (DAILY MAIL):
FIRST OF ALL THE FELICITATIONS OF ALL THOSE WHO'VE TRAVELLED WITH YOU AND YOUR TENNIS RACQUET ON THE VC-10 TO HONG KONG OVER THE YEARS. TO BEGIN WITH A SERIOUS QUESTION HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE TO CONSIDER THE OFFER OF THE APPOINTMENT, AND WHEN YOU'D MADE UP YOUR MIND, DID YOU ACCEPT IT FOR FIVE...PLUS FIVE YEARS, OR A STRAIGHT TEN, UNTIL YOU HAND OVER THE KEY?
SIR DAVID: FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPENING FELICITATIONS.
1 WAS TOLD OF THE RECOMMENDATION ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. IT IS SUCH AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND A RESPONSIBILITY FOR A TERRITORY WHICH, AS WAS SAYING, I HAVE THE GREATEST AFFECTION AND ADMIRATION, THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY HESITATION IN SAYING THAT I WAS PREPARED TO TAKE UP THE POST. I REALISE IT'S A VERY HEAVY BURDEN. AS FOR HOW LONG AN APPOINTMENT OF A GOVERNOR IS ALWAYS AT HER MAJESTY'S PLEASURE, I AM BOUND TO SAY AT THE MOMENT I AM THINKING OF TAKING UP THE JOB, NOT OF WHEN I STOP DOING IT.
CHAIRMAN:
YOU SIR.
JOURNALIST: (QUESTION TOTALLY INAUDIBLE).
CHAIRMAN: I THINK WE NEED THAT OTHER MICROPHONE.
/JONATHAN