2
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1994
KONG.
HONG
IT HAS BEEN A GOOD VISIT, DRIER AND HOTTER THAN I NOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ONCE AGAIN HOW SAD I WAS AT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FLOODING IN HONG KONG, AND HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE WORK DONE BY THE EMERGENCY SERVICES. I EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, AND WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE SEEKING ΤΟ LEARN ALL WE CAN FROM THAT TRAGEDY TO TRY TO PREVENT SIMILAR TRAGEDIES IN THE FUTURE, ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY WITH DIFFICULT WEATHER, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ANY UNTOWARD EVENT EVER HAPPENING.
QUESTION:
DID YOU AGREE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OR MR HOGG ANY TACTICS FOR SPEEDING UP THE PROGRESS IN THE JLG?
GOVERNOR:
WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT, BUT WE WILL BE HAVING FURTHER MEETINGS BOTH HERE AND IN KONG KONG OVER THE COMING WEEKS. I WILL OBVIOUSLY WANT TO HAVE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATIONS WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, AMBASSADOR DAVIS WHO RUNS OUR JLG OPERATION AND WITH AMBASSADOR APPLEYARD, BUT WE WANT TO SEE MORE PROGRESS. I WOULD VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE COULD GIVE AN AUTUMN PUSH A GOOD SEND-OFF BY AGREEING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ON THE AIRPORT. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE AIRPORT NARROW RAPIDLY AND I REALLY THINK KE SHOULD TRY TO GET THAT AGREED, THOUGH WE CONTINUE ΤΟ MAKE VERY RAPID PROGRESS IN BUILDING THE AIRPORT.
QUESTION:
FROM HOLIDAY?
WILL YOU HAVE MORE TALKS IN LONDON, ON YOUR WAY BACK
GOVERNOR :
NO. UNLESS ANYTHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS I INTEND TO GO BACK PRETTY WELL STRAIGHT AWAY WHEN I GET BACK FROM MY HOLIDAY..
QUESTION:
MR PATTEN, WOULD YOU SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF THE AGENTS IN
HONG KONG WHO FELT LEFT BEHIND TO GRANT THEM BRITISH PASSPORTS OR MAKE A KIND OF ARRANGEMENT WITH THEM?
GOVERNOR :
THEIR SITUATION HAS BEEN EXHAUSTIBLY REVIFWED BOTH WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION AND WITHIN THE COURTS. THE COURTS HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION CLEAR AND SO FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THAT IS THAT.
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPLY FOR POSITIONS UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME IS A DIFFERENT MATTER,
QUESTION:
YOU HAVE IN THE PAST SUGGESTED, NOTABLY TO THE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, THAT IF THIS BLOCK IN THE JLG WAS TO CONTINUE, WOULD HAVE TO GO AHEAD UNILATERALLY AS IT WERE TO THE LOCALISATION IS THAT STILL ON THE CARDS OR IS THERE SOME SORT OF THOUGHT THAT THAT COULD BE AN INCENTIVE, OR HAS THAT BEEN PUT BEHIND US NOW?
FOREIGN YOU
GOVERNOR:
IF YOU ARE MAKING THE PROGRESS YOU WOULD LIKE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS. YOU CAN EITHER SAY 'WE HAD BETTER, IN GOOD FAITH, DO THE BEST WE CAN ON OUR OWN' AND THEN CHINA AND THE SAR GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VIEW ON THAT PROGRESS ON JULY 1, 1997. BUT IT WOULD NOT EE AS CONDUCIVE AS ONE WOULD LIKE ΤΟ A SNOOTH TRANSITION. IT WOULD NEVERTHELESS BE RESPONSIBLE IF OTHER ATTEMPTS TO EXPEDITE PROGRESS HAD FAILED.
THE SECOND COURSE, I SUPPOSE, IS SIMPLY TO THROW UP OUR HANDS IN DESPAIR AT THE INADEQUATE PROGRESS, BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT IS SENSIBLE AS WE WANT TO DO AS WELL AS WE CAN FOR HONG KONG.
/THIRDLY, WE