FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1994
TO
QUESTION: THE HOME OFFICE SEEMS VERY RELUCTANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES THE CURRENT AGREED POLICY, TO MAKE EXCEPTION EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MORAL OBLIGATION IN THIS CASE. SO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING ΤΟ DO TRYING ΤΟ PERSUADE THE HOME OFFICE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND?
GOVERNOR: I AM GOING TO ARGUE AS STRONGLY AS I CAN IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WAS SAID IN THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT.
QUESTION: IS THE JOINT DECLARATION OF 1984 STILL VERY FIRMLY IN PLACE THESE DAYS?
GOVERNOR: YES, I BELIEVE THE JOINT DECLARATION IS VERY FIRMLY IN PLACE. IT'S OUR DETERMINATION TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY
CAN ΤΟ IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND I BELIEVE THAT DIRECTOR LU PING MADE HIS OWN POSITION ON THAT (LEAR THE OTHER DAY WHEN HE WAS IN HONG KONG.
QUESTION: WE ARE COMING FROM GERMAN TELEVISION. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO INVESTORS IN EUROPE?
GOVERNOR: MY MESSAGE TO INVESTORS IN EUROPE IS THAT HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD AND THAT NOBODY HAS EVER MADE ANY MONEY BY BETTING AGAINST HONG KONG. BUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE A LOT OF MONEY BY INVESTING IN HONG KONG.
QUESTION: SHOULD WE EXPECT ANY DECISION ON THE SETTING UP OF A RIGHTS COMMISSION WHEN YOU COME BACK?
HUMAN
TO
GOVERNOR: YOU'LL CERTAINLY GET A DECISION ON THAT IN THE RESPONSE THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT. SO, THAT WILL BE DURING THE COURSE OF JUNE.
QUESTION: ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED THAT THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE HASN'T GOT ANY... AGREEMENT THIS MORNING?
GOVERNOR: OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY AFTER DEALING WITH THESE MATTERS FOR SO LONG, WOULD HAVE LIKED COMPLETE AGREEMENT THIS MORNING IN THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE. I THINK IT WAS A USEFUL MEETING, I THINK IT MADE SOME PROGRESS. I THINK, TO BORROW A METAPHOR, WE HAVE LIFTED OFF BUT WE HAVEN'T YET MADE A LANDING. BUT, I THINK IT TOOK MATTERS FORWARD AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT WILL BRING THE END OF THIS SAGA A GOOD DEAL CLOSER. I KNOW BOTH SIDES HAD AND TOOK A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE IN THIS MORNING'S TALKS. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY AS THE AMBASSADORS OF BOTH SAID THAT WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.
QUESTION: WHAT SUGGESTION WILL YOU MAKE ON THE SETTING UP OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION? WHAT IS THE STAND ?
GOVERNOR : WELL, IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM GOING ΤΟ SAY THAT TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY IN PRIVATE BEFORE I SAY TO YOU IN WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE OR PUBLIC TODAY.
QUESTION: ANY VIEWS ON LAW AND ORDER, GIVEN THE ROBBERY IN CENTRAL THE OTHER DAY?
/GOVERNOR: