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MONDAY, JUNE 6, 1994
TRANSCRIPT OF GOVERNOR'S MEDIA SESSION
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SESSION BY THE
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEDIA GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AFTER HIS ADDRESS AT THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON:
QUESTION: MR PATTEN, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME ASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES CONSIDER THE MARITAL STATUS AND PREGNANCY OUGHT TO BE FACTORS IN SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION. THEY ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION DESPITE WHAT THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS SAID ON FRIDAY?
GOVERNOR: YES, WE ARE GOING TO BRING FORWARD COMPREHENSIVK PROPOSALS ON SEX DISCRIMINATION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR IF THERE HAS BREN. ANY CONFUSION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NERD TO PUT CLEAR STRAIGHT-A-WAY.
QUESTION:
SHENZHEN ACCIDENT?
GOVERNOR: OBVIOUSLY, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THOSE WHO'VE LOST LOVED ONRS IN SHENZHEN AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IF THE SHENZHEN AUTHORITIES NEED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, THEY WILL LET US KNOW. WE DID OFFER ASSISTANCE AS SOON AS WE HEARD ABOUT THE DISASTER. BUT WE WERE ASSURED THAT IT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED.
BUT, WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE IT CLEAR IN HONG KONG THAT WE'RE READY TO OFFER A HELPING HAND TO COLLEAGUES IN CHINA ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS.
QUESTION: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT WORK SAFETY?
GOVERNOR: THAT'S A MATTER FOR THE SHENZHEN AUTHORITIES. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THOUGH WE HAVEN'T. I THINK, HAD A TRAGEDY QUITE LIKE THAT, WE DON'T HAVE A SOAPBOX THAT WE CAN BOOST FROM BECAUSE OUR RECORD ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IS BAD AND MUST BE A GREAT DRAL BETTER. IT'S PARTICULARLY BAD IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE IT. WE ARE TAKING FURTHER MEASURES TO DO SO BUT WE CAN'T LECTURK OTHER PEOPLE 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER OURSELVES.
QUESTION; MR SUEN SAID ON FRIDAY THAT HE HAD NO PLANS TO INCLUDE OTHER MARITAL STATUS AND PREGNANCY IN THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL. ARE YOU DOING A U-TURN ON THAT LINE?
GOVERNOR: NO, WE ARE NOT DOING A U-TURN. I'M TELLING YOU AS I DID A MOMENT OR TWO AGO WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
QUESTION: DO YOU MIND GIVING US A CURTAIN RAISER ON THE PROPERTY PRICES BECAUSE EVER SINCE THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED MEASURES ΤΟ CURB THE PROPERTY SPECULATION, I BELIEVE IT HAD DROPPED BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT. THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE PROPERTY SECTOR, AND THAT'S BREN REFLECTED IN THE STOCK MARKET. COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A URTAIN RAISER ON WHAT SORT OF MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE?
/GOVERNOR :