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Governor: I never like talking about deadlines. They make good headlines, but I don't think they make for a helpful negotiating atmosphere. But everybody knows what the realities in Hong Kong are and everybody knows that time is not our friend on this issue. The Legislative Council are debating it today. It is a very important debate. We'll be listening closely to what Legislative Councillors have to say, and I very much hope that Chinese officials will be listening to what the community in Hong Kong, businessmen in Hong Kong, the Chamber of Commerce for example, and businessmen outside Hong Kong are saying about the importance of this issue to our prosperity and stability.
Question: If the Legco votes down the 1991 agreement, what can the government do?
Governor: I don't think that it makes very much sense, given that I have enough problems to deal with anyway, to answer questions about hypothetical problems, so I very much hope that Legco will endorse the legislative proposals when we eventually put them forward.
Question: But in your personal opinion, do you think that the 1991 agreement should be voted down?
Governor: In my personal opinion? Well, first of all I am not paid to have personal opinion. I am the Governor of Hong Kong. Any opinion you get is the governor's opinion. Secondly of course, I don't think that. The 1991 agreement was a good agreement and I stand wholeheartedly behind it. Anything else?
Question: There is another report saying the Government has considered seconding some officials to the preparatory committee which is to be set up early next year. What level should the officials be?
Governor: Well, what we're looking forward to doing is talking to Chinese officials about ways we can work with the preparatory committee and help the preparatory committee to do its job in laying the foundations as successfully as possible for the Special Administrative Region Government and administration. We're keen to help in every reasonable way we can, and the sooner we can start talking about that the better. But we haven't yet got into the business of putting forward specific proposals, though I would like to. It's the sort of thing that I would much enjoy talking to Director Lu Ping about when he is in Hong Kong. It's the sort of thing that I am sure the Chief Secretary will enjoy talking to him about, with her senior officials when he is in Hong Kong. I imagine he wants to talk about these things, but who knows? Thank you very much.
End/Wednesday, May 3, 1995