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SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1994
TRANSCRIPT OF GOVERNOR'S MEDIA SESSION
GOVERNOR,
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEDIA SESSION BY THE THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AFTER OPENING THE "HONG KONG WORKERS IN TRANSITION" EXHIBITION THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING: –
GOVERNOR: GOOD MORNING.
QUESTION: SIR PERCY CRADOCK APPEARS TO BE STIRRING UP QUITE A STORM WITH HIS COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR PROPOSALS. HOW DO YOU REACT, GIVEN THAT THE FAC HAS ALREADY PUT THEIR SEAL OF APPROVAL? WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
GOVERNOR! I THINK ALL THAT WAS PAST NOW. I AM MORE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE. THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AS YOU SAID, ENDORSED OUR APPROACH. THEY SAID THAT THEY REGARDED IT AND SIR PERCY'S APPROACHES NEITHER TENABLE NOR HONOURABLE. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
QUESTION; SIR, YOU SAY THAT THE FAC REPORT IS WORTH READING AND MAY BE IT CAN BB USED AS A REFERENCE FOR THE HONG KONG FUTURE. BUT THE CHINESE SIDE, INCLUDING THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND ALL SORTS OF ORGANISATIONS, THE HIGH-LEVEL LEADERS, COME OUT AND CRITICISE ABOUT THE FAC REPORT. WHAT DO YOU THINK, DO YOU MEAN THAT THE FAC REPORT WILL ADD A FURTHER CONFRONTATIONAL SITUATION TO HONG KONG?
GOVERNOR: NO, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY RECOGNISES THAT WE WANT TO PUT THOSE MATTERS ON WHICH WE DISAGREE TO ONE SIDE AND GET ON WITH THE MATTERS ON WHICH WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CO-OPERATE. I THINK THAT 13 EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG WANTS TO DO AND IT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO DO.
QUESTION: SIR,
ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THE FUNCTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM DOESN'T VIOLATE THE BILL OF RIGHTS...
CONSTITUENCY
?
GOVERNOR: YES.
QUESTION: SIR, HOW ABOUT SHOULD SOMEBODY IS CALLING FOR THERE SHOULD BE CERTAIN CLARIFICATIONS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING THE ALLEGATIONS PUT FORWARD BY MR ALEX TSUI CONCERNING THE TWO NAMED PERSONS,
MRS RITA FAN AND MR K.Y YEUNG, SHOULD THE ADMINISTRATION OF ICAC COME OUT AND CLARIFY, IF NOT FOR POLITICAL REASONS, AND FOR WHAT?
I.E.
IS.
GOVERNOR: NO. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE CLEAR WHAT THE POSITION I ANSWERED QUESTIONS AT SOME LENGTH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY ON THE ISSUE. THERE NEVER HAS BEEN NOR WILL THERE EVER BE ANY POLITICISATION OF THE ICAC. I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SEE THE ICAC DOING A GOOD JOB IN DEALING WITH CORRUPTION. WE SAT UP A REVIEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THOSE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS EXERCISED IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY WHICH HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.
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