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Governor appeals to Lau Chin-shek to withdraw resignation threat
The following is part of the transcript of the press conference given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo today (Thursday):
Brent Sommerville, Reuters: Yesterday the Democratic Party's Lau resigned from the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. He was protesting at the Hong Kong Government's withdrawal of the Employment Bill. I wonder do you have any reaction to his resignation and as a former party president, how would you describe the tactic of withdrawing a bill if the parliamentary majority decides that an amendment should change it? Do you think it's good tactic in terms of politics?
Governor: Let me first of all say that I very much hope that Lau Chin-shek withdraws his threat to leave the Legislative Council. I say that for this simple reason, that he is widely respected and an effective Legislative Councillor. He is respected even by those who don't agree with him. You see that in some of the tributes that have been paid to him in the newspapers today. He has worked over the years for a number of important social and industrial causes, some directly related to the rights of trade unionists in Hong Kong, some related to issues like safety and welfare of workers, about which I feel as strongly as he does, some in a broader humanitarian political context. He is one of best known labour leaders and representatives in Hong Kong. He is one of the best known legislators and I would appeal to him not to leave the Legislative Council, but to stay and continue to contribute as much as he can to Hong Kong. Hong Kong needs people with his integrity and his drive and his enthusiasm for so many good causes.
I want to come to the second question which is also extremely important. What is the issue at stake on this occasion? Is it a fundamental issue about the rights of the Legislative Council? I don't believe it is. the Legislative Council over the year amends in scores, hundreds of ways legislation put before it. There is no question about the Legislative Council's ability to say no or to change things.