WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1993
GOVERNOR: I'VE MADE IT CLEAR TODAY. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MADE IT CLEAR YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO ANSWER EXCEPT ANOTHER FOOT-STAMPING.
QUESTION: MR
PATTEN, DO YOU THINK BY DELIVERING THE STATEMENT JUST NOW,
AND YOU THINK
A VERY ATTRACTIVE CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE?
GOVERNOR : I THINK WHAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WANT IS A GUARANTEE THAT THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL CONTINUE BEYOND 1997. LOOK AT THE EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY OF THIS COMMUNITY, LOOK AT THE CIVILISED
VALUE
AND STANDARD WHICH THIS COMMUNITY ENJOYS. WE WANT IN HONG KONG THOSE THINGS TO CONTINUE. WE ARE DETERMINED THAT THEY SHALL CONTINUE AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT GUARANTEES OF THEIR CONTINUING IS THE RULE OF LAW AND THE RULE OF LAW REQUIRES US TO HAVE IN PLACE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE FAIR, WHICH GUARANTEE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. NOBODY DISPUTES THOSE PROPOSITIONS. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO ON WORKING FOR THOSE THINGS. I DON'T THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE CHINA OR SOME CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY THAT AFTER 1997 THEY MAY DO THINGS WHICH WOULD BE AGAINST HONG KONG'S INTEREST, THAT'S A VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT FOR US TODAY DOING THINGS WHICH WOULD BE AGAINST HONG KONG'S INTEREST. SO WE ARE GOING ΤΟ CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE LONG TERM INTEREST OF HONG KONG. I AM SURE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS STARTING TO CONSIDER OUR NON- CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS TODAY, WILL DO A JOB WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT AT THE END OF DAY, WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS HERE IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE FAIR AND OPEN, WHICH ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE OVERTURNED.
QUESTION: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE REJECTED TO THE HANDSHAKE BY MR ZHOU NAN JUST NOW?
GOVERNOR: I DIDN'T REJECT ANY HANDSHAKE WITH MR ZHOU NAN. MR ZHOU NAN MADE A BUDDHIST SIGN TO ME AND I MADE A BUDDHIST SIGN BACK. I IMAGINE MR ZHOU NAN IS A BUDDHIST, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I SHAKE HANDS WITH EVERYONE EVERYWHERE. IF OTHERS DON'T DO SO, THAT'S SOMETHING FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN BUT NOT FOR ME TO EXPLAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.
POLICE
0
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
TODAY
(WEDNESDAY) APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO BE COURTEOUS AND PATIENT, TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND BE CONSIDERATE TO CHILDREN AND ELDERLY WHILE ENJOYING VARIOUS COUNTDOWN
ACTIVITIES IN
THE TERRITORY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.
AS LARGE CROWD OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED IN TSIM SHA TSUI, CAUSEWAY BAY AND CENTRAL, EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE DEPLOYED FOR CROWD MANAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC DUTIES.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID POLICE WOULD TAKE ACTION TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEIR SAFETY REQUIRED IT ON THE DAY.
HE URGED THE PUBLIC TO BE CO-OPERATIVE ADVICE GIVEN BY POLICE OFFICERS ON THE GROUND.
POLICE WILL ALSO TAKE FIRM ACTION AGAINST FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND LISTEN ΤΟ THE
ANY TROUBLE MAKERS
/TO ENABLE