10
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1992
LAW,
I
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I HAVE READ THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC I GUESS, NOW, MORE THAN I'VE READ ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS IN MY LIFE. SAY,
TO MY SHAME AS A PRACTISING CHRISTIAN, THAT I'VE READ THE BASIC LAW AND THE JOINT DECLARATION MORE FREQUENTLY THAN I'VE READ THE NEW TESTAMENT'. THEY ARE, FOR ME, WELL KNOWN AND IMPORTANT TEXTS AND I WOULD JUST BE INTERESTED TO KNOW, NOT A GENERAL BLAST OF CRITICISM, BUT WHERE EXACTLY I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE INFRINGED. BUT I HOPE WE CAN CARRY FORWARD THOSE DISCUSSIONS SWIFTLY AND CALMLY AND RATIONALLY. BECAUSE, AS I WAS SAYING TO PAUL AND OTHERS AT LUNCH, WE'VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT OF OTHER VERY, VERY BIG ISSUES TO DEAL WITH TOGETHER.
AND I SAY ONE OTHER THING AS WELL. I DO MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THAT I WANT TO HAVE A CLOSE AND EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE. I ADMIRE HIS RESTRAINT IN RECENT WEEKS WHEN DOUBTLESS OFFERED ON MANY OCCASIONS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MUTTER A FEW WORDS INTO A PASSING MICROPHONE OR INTO A PASSING REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK. I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH, EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE, WE CAN SPEAK FRANKLY AND FREQUENTLY ONE TO THE OTHER. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF THAT IS THE CASE, AS I HOPE IT WILL BE, THE MEMBERS OF HIS OFFICE, AND MR LU PING HIMSELF, WILL FIND THAT I AM VERY FRANK WITH THEM AND VERY CANDID, AND I HOPE, PRETTY PREDICTABLE IN MY DEALINGS.
THE GOVERNOR
THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN'S PUBLIC MEETING AT SHA TIN TOWN HALL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1992
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GOVERNOR:
ALL, WELCOME
THIS IS NOT
то VISIT A I'VE
MICHAEL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FIRST OF AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR COMING THIS EVENING. THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE BEEN TO SHA TIN. I CAME HERE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON MY FIRST DAY, FULL DAY, IN HONG KONG, BEEN TO THE SPORTS INSTITUTE AND I WENT TO THE LIBRARY JUST OVER THE ROAD AND I CAME HERE FOR THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL WITH MY FAMILY. BUT I HAVEN'T YET BEEN TO THE RACES AND I HAVEN'T YET BEEN TO THE PIGEON RESTAURANT. SO, I HOPE IF THE OWNER OF THE PIGEON RESTAURANT IS HERE, HE WILL TAKE NOTE OF THAT.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG BALLET DANCERS ON THE STAGE BUT TONIGHT THERE'S GOING TO BE NO DANCING. TONIGHT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ME, AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE GOVERNOR, TO ASK ME WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU WANT.
/I'M