1
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1994
GOVERNOR MAKES STATEMENT TO LEGCO
THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THE AT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY):
MR PRESIDENT,
E AM GLAD TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF THE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON ON MY RECENT VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ON THE QUESTION OF LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY PRICES.
THIS WAS ONE
I HAVE BEEN INTEND TO
I WAS IN THE UK FROM THE 21ST TO THE 29TH OF MAY, OF MY REGULAR VISITS TO BRITAIN. LIKE MY PREDECESSORS, TRAVELLING THRRR ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A YEAR AND CONTINUE TO VISIT WITH THIS DEGREE OF REGULARITY. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLEX ISSUES TO HANDLE AS THE TRANSITION APPROACHES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS FACE TO FACE WITH MINISTERS AND WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, RATHER THAN TO RELY SOLELY ON TELEGRAMS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
HAD SOME VERY USEFUL MEETINGS WITH BRITISH MINISTERS. SPENT TWO HOURS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AT WHICH WR DISCUSSED HONG KONG MATTERS EN SOME DETAIL. I HAD A BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY ON HIS RETURN FROM RUSSIA. J MET OTHER CABINET MINISTERS AND HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH MR GOODLAD AND WITH FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIALS. 1 ALSO MET BUSINESS LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AS WELL AS HAVING DETAILED SESSIONS WITH THE BACK BENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND THEN WITH THE BRITISH-HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, WHERE WE HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST MEETINGS WHICH I CAN RECALL.
I ALSO VISITED MANCHESTER WHERE THERE IS THE BIGGEST HONG KONG CHINESE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE LONDON. I WAS ABLE TO VISIT A HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND A CULTURAL CENTRE, AND TO SEE THE CHINESE SECTION OF THE CITY LIBRARY SERVICE. WHILE I WAS IN MANCHESTER, I GAVE THE ANNUAL MANCHESTER LECTURE IN WHICH I SET OUT THE REASONS FOR HONG KONG'S EXTRAORDINARY ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND EXPLAINED THE CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS WHICH FACE THE TERRITORY AS IT APPROACHES 1997.
WHILE I WAS IN THE UK, THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE RECENT FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT AND IN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S FORTHCOMING RESPONSE TO IT. PARTICULAR INTEREST WAS EXPRESSED IN THOSE PARTS OF THE REPORT WHICH FOCUSED ON THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS SAFEGUARDS IN HONG KONG. AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TOLD THIS COUNCIL, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS CLOSELY CONSULTING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OVER THE RESPONSE TO THE REPORT. THE FULI DETAILS OF THIS WILL BF PUBLISHRU AT THE END OF JUNE,
/IT IS