Transcript of the Governor's media session
The following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after opening the 25th Hong Kong Fashion Week this (Wednesday) morning:
Governor: Morning. I'm delighted to 've been able to open the Fashion Exhibition. It's an example of the best of Hong Kong, a good example of how we dominate the world in the fashion industry. I think the way in which the exhibition year after year gets bigger and bigger is an example of how we've been able successfully to move upmarket to improve our quality and design, and to get a bigger share of the international market as a result. Can I say one other thing? I am sure that everyone would have been deeply distressed by the tragic earthquake in Japan. All of us who have seen the scenes on the television and the pictures in the newspapers will, I think, have been particularly moved. I wrote yesterday to Mr Nogami, the Japanese Consul- General in Hong Kong, to express to him and to the Japanese Government our condolences on behalf of the people of Hong Kong, at the loss of life, the bereavement and the tragedy in Japan. We have a very close relationship, as you know, with Japan, and therefore, I think, we're particularly moved by what has happened there. And our thoughts and our prayers are with everyone in Japan at the moment. We are making enquiries or trying to make enquiries about whether any of those who have lost their loves in Kobe are citizens of Hong Kong. It's, as you can imagine, not easy to get through at the moment. But we're trying to make contact with the British Embassy to find out whether there is anyone from Hong Kong who is missing or who's lost their life. And obviously we will keep you posted about whatever we've found out. But I just want to say for the record how concerned we are at what's happened.
Question: Mr Governor, yesterday Mr Lu Ping said that if any Government department refuses to hand over information or file to the Chinese Government, that is a violation of the Joint Declaration, and he also warned that if that happened, they would mean business. What's your reaction to that and do you think that is a serious. threat to Hong Kong Government?
Governor: We put out a statement yesterday, a comprehensive statement, and I don't want to add to that. I would just say that I hope people will remember that what we're talking about are the careers and livelihoods of men and women, that what we're talking about is the best way of securing the good government of Hong Kong. And I don't think this is a subject which it's sensible to discuss through short-tempered sound bites on television. I think the time has come to cool it and to try to take forward a serious discussion in the Joint Liaison Group or in any other forum which others think may be convenient. I think we want to talk about these matters in private and not have people making angry statements about them in public.