7
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1992
GOOD EVENING, MR PATTEN.
QUESTION:
I SHOULD LIKE TO RAISE AN ISSUE NOT MENTIONED IN YOUR RECENT POLICY ADDRESS. I REFER TO THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S MINORITY LONG TERM RESIDENTS, NOT OF CHINESE DESCENT, WHO DO NOT ENJOY PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS IN HONG KONG. THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS BEING CONFIRMED ON NON-CHINESE PERSONS WHO HAVE RESIDED HERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. IN SPITE OF THIS EXISTING AGREEMENT, YOUR GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ΤΟ DECLINE TO GIVE SUCH LONG TERM RESIDENTS, LIKE MYSELF, PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS, CLAIMING THAT A LACK OF A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR THE TERM "CHINESE RESIDENT" PRECLUDES THIS.
THE GOVERNMENT IS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILLING ΤΟ USE THEIR OWN RACIALLY-DISCRIMINATING DEFINITION IN CURRENT LEGISLATION, TO ISSUE PERMANENT IDENTITY-CARDS TO PERSONS WHOLLY OR PARTLY OF CHINESE BLOOD. THIS PARTICULAR DEFINITION, DISTASTEFUL THOUGH IT IS, COULD JUST AS EASILY BE UTILISED TO GIVE NON-CHINESE RESIDENTS PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS. WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO ABOUT REMOVING THIS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND PROVIDE ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS WITH THE SAME RIGHTS? THANK YOU.
GOVERNOR:
JUST BEFORE ANSWERING THE QUESTION, CAN I DEAL WITH A LITTLE LOCAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE GENTLEMAN AT NUMBER 2. WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS IS, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS FAIR TO ONE ANOTHER. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO IT IN A FAIR ORDER. I WILL ANSWER A QUESTION FROM YOU, BUT I WON'T ANSWER A QUESTION FROM YOU UNTIL THE GENTLEMAN IN THE WHITE T- SHIRT HAS ASKED A QUESTION, BECAUSE I CALLED HIM FIRST. SO IF YOU SIT DOWN, I WILL ASK YOU TO HAVE A QUESTION AFTER THE GENTLEMAN IN THE WHITE T-SHIRT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, THAT IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN HAVE SERIOUS DISCUSSION IN AN ORDERLY WAY.
CAN I NOW COME TO THE IMPORTANT QUESTION WHICH WAS ASKED FROM NUMBER 5. I'M GOING TO BE QUITE BRIEF BECAUSE IT'S AN ISSUE WHICH IS AT PRESENT BEING DISCUSSED. IT IS AN ISSUE WHICH WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS WITH OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES. IT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA OF WHAT'S CALLED "THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP" FOR QUITE A LONG TIME NOW BUT I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, AT WHICH BRITISH AND CHINESE OFFICIALS DISCUSSED THESE MATTERS AROUND THE TABLE, AT THE LAST MEETING IN LONDON LAST MONTH, WE STARTED TO MAKE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS ON WHAT IS CALLED "THE RIGHT OF ABODE AND RELATED ISSUES" SO I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE ΤΟ RESOLVE MATTERS IN A WAY WHICH IS SATISFACTORY FOR YOU AND FOR COLLEAGUES, SO THAT YOU CAN GO ON MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL BEING AND THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG. I DO UNDERSTAND THE WORRIES THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE AND WE WILL TRY TO RESOLVE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS.
QUESTION:
MR GOVERNOR, IN YOUR POLICY SPEECH YOU MENTIONED A LOT ABOUT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT BUT YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE GOING ΤΟ TAKE THESE PROPOSALS TO PEKING TO DISCUSS WITH THEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ALSO STRESS THAT THIS IS WHAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WANT, THEY WANT A FASTER PACE IN DEMOCRATISATION.
BUT THESE TWO MAY BE CONTRADICTORY.
THE AND
MAY I ASK YOU ONE THING: WHAT WILL YOU DO IF WISHES OF PEKING AND THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE NOT COMPATIBLE? WILL IT TRIGGER OFF A NEW POLITICAL WRANGLING, AND WILL IT AFFECT YOUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE NEW AIRPORT?
/GOVERNOR: FIRST