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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1992
HK WANTS RATIONAL DISCUSSION
ON POLITICAL REFORM PROPOSALS
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HONG KONG PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A "RATIONAL DISCUSSION" ON THE PROPOSED POLITICAL REFORM PACKAGE RATHER THAN *EMPTY THREATS" THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID ON WEDNESDAY (VANCOUVER TIME).
HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE MEDIA RIGHT AFTER DELIVERING HIS SPEECH AT THE FESTIVAL HONG KONG 92 GALA DINNER AT THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL IN VANCOUVER ABOUT HIS RESPONSE ΤΟ NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY'S STATEMENT CONCERNING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON NOVEMBER 11.
"I THINK WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WANT IS A RATIONAL DISCUSSION RATHER THAN EMPTY THREATS," MR PATTEN TOLD REPORTERS.
"THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE REWRITING WHICH THE NONA IN HONG KONG CAN DO. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW TALK ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW ARE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
41.
HE SAID INSTEAD OF CRITICISING, "PEOPLE SHOULD RECOGNISE THAT LEGCO HAS HAD A SERIOUS AND QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY PASSIONATE DEBATE.
"THEY BEHAVED RESPONSIBLY, AND WHATEVER THE NOISE OFF STAGE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO."
THE GOVERNOR ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER SHORTLY AFTER NOON ON WEDNESDAY TO BEGIN HIS FOUR-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT IN CANADA.
ADDRESSING THE GALA BENEFIT DINNER WHICH MARKS THE CLOSING OF FESTIVAL HONG KONG 92, MR PATTEN SAID THE FESTIVAL OPENED A "NEW CHAPTER IN THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP" BETWEEN PEOPLES IN HONG KONG CANADA. THE GALA DINNER WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 800 PEOPLE.
AND
NOTING THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "HONG KONG IS AN OPEN COMMUNITY, AND SO HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE AN INTUITIVE REGARD AND AFFECTION FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OPEN AND TOLERANT AND FREE, AS CANADA IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
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TURNING TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, MR PATTEN SAID: "AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, I WILL BE JUDGED IN 1997 AND AFTERWARDS BY WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE FULLY IMPLEMENTED THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND BY WHETHER HONG KONG'S WAY OF LIFE, WHICH IT DESCRIBES IN DETAILS, IS INTACT AND SECURE.
I
SUCH
"FOR
THEIR
HE SAID HE HAD PUT FORWARD "A FEW MODEST" PROPOSALS GIVING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG A GREATER SAY, IN THE RUNNING OF OWN LIVES. AND THE PROPOSALS WERE WHOLLY CONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE JOINT DECLARATION.
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THE GOVERNOR SAID HIS INTENTION WAS TO "MEET THE MODEST AND LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS OF A REMARKABLY TALENTED PEOPLE. WHO PLAINLY HAVE IN ABUNDANCE THE GOOD SENSE AND MATURITY NEEDED TO EXERCISE THAT SLIGHTLY GREATER SAY IN THE RUNNING OF THEIR OWN LIVES THAT I PROPOSE.
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/MR PATTEN
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