6 -
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1991
YOU THINK
OUTSIDE THOSE
Q: I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SEEN THE POLITICAL PARTY PROTEST THE CGO THIS MORNING AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF RADICAL DEMOCRACY MOVEMENTS WILL AFFECT THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG?
ALSO, AND
THE DO YOU THINK THAT THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG IS IMPORTANT ISSUE DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD?
MOST
PRIME MINISTER: I THINK THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. STABILITY IN THE SENSE OF CONTINUED INVESTMENTS; STABILITY IN THE SENSE OF SECURITY OF MIND OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE; KONG AND STABILITY IN THE SENSE OF A BELIEF BY PEOPLE, BOTH IN HONG BEYOND HONG KONG, THAT THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY IS ASSURED. I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
OWN AND
AS TO THE DEMONSTRATORS WHO WERE OUTSIDE THE MEETING I HAD WITH EXCO THIS MORNING, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION IN HONG KONG I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE LIVED THROUGH ELECTIONS BEFORE IN MY COUNTRY AND ALL SORTS OF DEMONSTRATIONS ARE HELD DURING ELECTIONS PEOPLE EXPRESS ALL SORTS OF VIEWS IN ELECTIONS. IT IS VERY PRUDENT FOR
WHO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THAT PARTICULAR ELECTION AND
PLACE, NOT RESIDENT IN THE TERRITORY IN WHICH THE ELECTION IS TAKING NOT ΤΟ
COMMENT ON IT AND I DON'T PROPOSE TO
ON COMMENT
THE ELECTION DEMONSTRATION OR ON THE COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE FACING NEXT WEEK.
OFFER
REAL
ARE
Q: IN VERY BROAD TERMS, DO YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR STOPOVER HERE IN HONG KONG YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CALMING THE VERY
FEARS
ABOUT 1997?
PRIME MINISTER: WELL I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW EVENTS SETTLE DOWN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. I CAN ONLY SAY, IN THE GENUINE DISCUSSIONS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH PEOPLE THERE HAS BEEN A VERY WELCOME INDEED FOR THE FACT THAT I WENT TO PEKING AND FOR THE OUTCOME OF THAT MEETING IN PEKING. NOT JUST THE OUTCOME THAT I MENTIONED A IN THE FEW MOMENTS AGO, BUT OF COURSE THE POINTS THAT WERE SET OUT
COMMUNIQUE JOINT
OF THAT I SIGNED AND LI PENG SIGNED ON BEHALF
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. FOR THAT REAFFIRMED THE JOINT DECLARATION, REAFFIRMED THE POINTS THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND WE
APPEAL ADVANCED BEYOND THAT, OF COURSE, WITH THE COURT OF FINAL WHICH I KNOW FROM MY CORRESPONDENCE IN ENGLAND AND DISCUSSIONS AND
I'VE HAD ADVICE
WAS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS IN HONG KONG, MATTER OF HUGE CONCERN TO PEOPLE HERE.
—
IT
A
I THINK THERE IS A VERY WARM WELCOME FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE IT IS NOW GOING TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSULATE AND IT WILL BE BUILT. AN INDICATION OF THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HONG KONG UP TO 1997 AND BEYOND 1997, AND MORE THAN THAT, IT IS AN INDICATION OF THE CONFIDENCE AS WELL AS THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE IN HONG KONG.
NOW THERE ARE OTHER MATTERS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS, EXPERT DISCUSSIONS, THIS MORNING AS YOU MAY KNOW, ON DEFENCE LANDS AND THEY WILL CONTINUE. THERE ARE OTHER MATTERS LIKE AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS WHICH ARE STILL TO BE DETERMINED. BUT THERE IS NOW A CONTINUING DEBATE UPON THESE ISSUES AND I BELIEVE IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VERY WARM WELCOME FOR WHAT WAS ACHIEVED IN THE PERIOD UP ΤΟ PEKING AND AT PEKING, AND I THINK THERE IS ENORMOUS RELIEF THAT WE NOW HAVE A CONTINUING MECHANISM THAT WILL DRAL WITH THOSE MATTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING AND THOSE OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE BOUND TO ARISE AND THAT ARE NOT AT THE MOMENT FORESEEN, BETWEEN NOW AND 1997,
/Q: YOU MENTION