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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
GOVERNOR:
I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE WILL SHORTLY BE ABLE TO SIGN A MINUTE ON THE AIRPORT AND I HOPE THAT IF THAT CONFIDENCE IS JUSTIFIED IT WILL HELP PROVIDE A LITTLE MOMENTUM TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
QUESTION:
DID YOU DISCUSS THE FACT THAT AMBASSADOR GUO WAS RECENTLY ALMOST DISMISSIVE ABOUT FURTHER PROGRESS ON LOCALISATION?
GOVERNOR:
I DO NOT THINK HE WAS DISMISSIVE ABOUT LOCALISATION. THERE IS A REPORT IN THE TIMES THIS MORNING WHICH UNUSUALLY I THINK IS A LITTLE UNBALANCED. I DO NOT THINK THE PROBLEMS APPLY TO LOCALISATION, THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ARISEN RELATE TO THE ADAPTATION OF LAWS. ON LOCALISATION THERE ARE IN OUR ESTIMATION ABOUT 32 BILLS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO LOCALISE UK LEGISLATION, WE ARE MAKING PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS WITH THOSE. ADAPTATION RAISES OTHER ISSUES WHICH THE CHINESE SIDE BELIEVE INVOLVE MATTERS OF SOVEREIGNTY. WE PROPOSED WHAT WE CALL THE MIDNIGHT SOLUTION WHICH WOULD TRIGGER THINGS AT MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 30, 1997, THE CHINESE OFFICIALS DO NOT MUCH CARE FOR THAT, BUT THE ISSUE IS STILL ONE TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE JLG AND WE ARE HAPPY TO GO AHEAD WITH THAT. I THINK AMBASSADOR GUO DURING THE COURSE OF HIS REMARKS SAID THAT THERE WERE MANY ADVISERS HELPING CHINESE OFFICIALS DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF ADAPTATION AND WE HAVE SAID THAT IF THAT EXERCISE CAN BE TIED UP WITH THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, IF IN SOME WAY THOSE ACTIVITIES CAN BE PUT TOGETHER, IT MIGHT BE A WAY OF CARRYING THINGS FORWARD, BUT WE ARE OPEN-MINDED ON IT, THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WE HAVE GOT TO TRY TO SOLVE
IT.
QUESTION:
WHAT WAS THE PRIME MINISTER'S SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING RELATONS WITH BEIJING?
RESPONSE ΤΟ
YOUR
HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN FULLY PUT THOSE POINTS TO VICE SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE
MR PATTEN:
HE WAS VERY INTERESTED, HE CONSULTED BEFORE THE FOREIGN SECRETARY PREMIER QIAN QICHEN AND BEFORE I MADE MY COUNCIL, BUT HE WAS INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT PROGRESS. WE BOTH WANT TO SEE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS POSSIBLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT IN ANY WAY GIVING UP, ON WHAT IS OUR FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE, WHICH IS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GUARANTEE OF HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY, OF THE RULE OF LAW IN HONG KONG AND OF THE SURVIVAL OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN HONG KONG.
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