WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993
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MR. PATTEN, AS YOU SAY, YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE LONG-TERM
FOR THE NEXT TRANSITIONAL PERIOD WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.
STRATEGY WHAT
SORT OF THAT? IS THAT MEANT THAT BRITAIN WOULD LIKE ΤΟ TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK?
GOVERNOR: WE TOOK THE INITIATIVE AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK FROM OCTOBER ONWARDS. I REPEAT IT WAS A BRITISH INITIATIVE IN FEBRUARY TO START TALKS. BRITAIN AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE VERY VERY HAPPY TO SEE TALKS STARTING TOMORROW AT WHATEVER EARLY TIME OF THE DAY SUITS CHINESE OFFICIALS ON EXACTLY THE SAME BASIS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR THE LAST DECADE. IT ISN'T BRITAIN,
IT IS NOT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO INVENTED A NEW PRECONDITION. BUT, I'D VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY ROUND THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TALKS THOUGH I AM BOUND TO SAY THAT THE DIFFICULTIES WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SUGGEST, I THINK, TO EVERYONE THAT TALKS WOULD BE ANYTHING BUT A PUSH-OVER.
Q : ARE YOU SAYING THAT BRITAIN WILL NOT TAKE FURTHER INITIATIVE TO BRING THE TWO PARTIES TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE ?
GOVERNOR : I THINK YOU SHOULD ASK WHAT INITIATIVES CHINA WILL TAKE, GIVEN THAT IT'S A NEW INVENTED CHINESE PRECONDITION WHICH HAS STOPPED TALKS STARTING.
Q: WHY THERE IS THE NECESSITY FOR SUCH A REVIEW?
AND
GOVERNOR: BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE AMAZED IF I WAS TO GO TO LONDON TALK TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND TALK TO THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND NOT HAVE A REVIEW OF OUR PRESENT POLICIES. BUT TO REVIEW PRESENT POLICIES DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT. AT EVERY STAGE IN THE LAST WEEKS AND MONTHS, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY, TOTALLY ENDORSED THE POLICIES THAT WE'VE BEEN PURSUING. THAT HAS BEEN THE SITUATION. IT IS THE SITUATION TODAY. AND I AM SURE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE SITUATION IN THE FUTURE, ONE LAST QUESTION.
: NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS TODAY HAS PASSED A RESOLUTION FOR THE SETTING UP OF A WORKING GROUP FOR THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS IT A GOOD THING FOR HONG KONG?
GOVERNOR THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT CHINA RESUMES SOVEREIGNTY OF HONG KONG IN JULY 1997. THERE IS EQUALLY NO QUESTION THAT BRITAIN IS SOVEREIGN UNTIL THAT DATE IN 1997. IF CHINA WISHES то MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO TRY ΤΟ HELP IT DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE MIDDLE OF 1997 MORE EFFECTIVELY, THEN SO BE IT. I HOPE THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT IT MAKES ENABLE IT TO DO ITS JOB MORE CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND MORE COMPETENTLY THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE THE CASE.
: WILL YOU HAVE ANY TIME FOR A EASTER HOLIDAY?
GOVERNOR : I'VE GOT OFF EASTER SATURDAY THOUGH I AM DOING ANY QUESTION ON GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER SUNDAY AND I HOPE THE MONDAY AS WELL. BUT, THAT'S ABOUT IT. I HOPE YOU HAVE LONGER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED. MANY THANKS.
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