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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1990
JOHN ELLIOPT:
DO YOU FAVOUR IT?
MR HURD: AS I'VE SAID, 1'VE TAKEN NO DECISION ON THAT: WE'VE TAKEN NO DECISION ON THAT. IT IS AN OPTION, BUT IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY. I WON'T REPEAT AGAIN FOR YOU WHAT THE BEST WAY 15. BUT 1 AM PERFECTLY CLEAR, AFTER MY DISCUSSIONS HERE. WHAT THE BEST WAY 15; IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME. BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TWO STRONG PIECES OF ADVICE URGED ON ME BY MANY PEOPLE. THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE CLEAR DEMONSTRATION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF ITS KEENNESS TO SEE A RAPID START TO DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG; THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE HAD FROM MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
THE SECOND PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE HAD. SOMETIMES FROM THE SAME PEOPLE, SOMETIMES FROM OTHER PEOPLE, IS THAT WHAT IS WEAKENING, WHAT IS DIFFICULT IN HONG KONG, IS THE CONSTANT FLOW OF HOSTILE STATEMENTS ON OND ASPECT OR ANOTHER OF HONG KONG LIFE FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
PATRICIA LEUNG (TIN TIN DAILY NEWS): MR LI HOU ALSO POINTS OUT THAT THE RIGHT OF ABODE PACKAGE IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAMPERS THE NORMALISATION OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONSHIP. DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS"
MR HURD: EVERYBODY HEARD THE QUESTION. DID THEY?
IT'S WHETHER
1 AGREE WITH WHAT MR LT BOU SAID IN PEKING YESTERDAY, THAT THE RIGHT OF ABODE QUESTION IS ONE OF THOSE WHICH HAMPERS UNDERSTANDING AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
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WELL.. THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE IT ISN'T ACTUALLY A RIGHT OF ABODE PACKAGE THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE WHICH PROPOSED TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. IS NOT OF COURSE AIMED AGAINST CHINA AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGING EFFECTS FOR CHINESE INTERESTS. IT 18 DESIGNED, INDEED. TO HONOUR THE IMPORTANT PURPOSE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG. THAT IS ITS PURPOSE: WE'VE EXPLAINED THAT NOW TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND I HOPE THAT ON CONSIDERATION THIS WILL NOT BE A CONTINUING OBSTACLE TO DIALOGUE AND CO-OPERATION. WE BELIEVE IN THIS PACKAGE. I GO BACK TO BRITAIN CONFIRMED IN MY VIEW THAT THIS WILL BE A USEFUL PACKAGE. AND NOW WE HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON PERSUADING THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT TO ACCEPT IT AND TO PASS THE LEGISLATION.
HELLA FICK (THE GUARDIAN): UNTIL NOW, IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE IN LONDON TO SAY THAT UNTIL THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE HONG KONG CONSENSUS ON DEMOCRACY, IT CANNOT TAKE A DECISION. DO YOU NOW ACCEPT THE OMELCO VIEW AS A HONG KONG CONSENSUS OF WHAT THEY WANT ON POLITICAL REFORM" AND DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS ANY WAY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN BEIJING AND THIS CONSENSUS?
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/MR HURD:
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