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Governor: No, I don't know what experience you had of legislatures elsewhere, Francis, but I had 13 years of experience with legislatures and I have to say on the basis of that experience we seem to manage things remarkably smoothly in Hong Kong. I've been up all night on the committee stage of bills where we've virtually re- written bills in the House of Commons. So I don't think that you should regard the occasional requirement to make technical amendments in the course of the passage of a bill in Hong Kong is in any way a curiosity. We've done a lot of work this summer. we have done a lot of work this week. I think it's all been absolutely necessary. Take for example the legislation on the Mandatory Provident Fund which some people have accused us of pushing forward too hastily. The truth of the matter is as many of your newspapers have been pointing out, we've been debating this issue for over 30 years. It's taken this administration and this legislature to bring that debate to end and to actually get on with the job of putting in place arrangements which will be greatly to the benefit of the future retired population of Hong Kong. So, while I would accept that I could always try to improve one's record in legislating, I think that we've done exceptionally well this week and I don't regard the fact we occasionally have to amend our own bills as in any way surprising or exceptional.
Question: Governor, how is the Government going to.. the support of the Chinese side on the MPF primary legislation? They've criticised that without any consultation before implementing the bill.
Governor: I think a number of your newspapers have made the point today that this is a scheme which is in the interest of Hong Kong which is good for Hong Kong and that therefore it would be sensible to ensure that the scheme not only survived but is built on sensibly in the next few year. We'll obviously be discussing with Chinese officials the detail regulations which will be necessary in order to get the scheme up and running. We will be having full consultations with them and of course, not least because of the amendments passed by the Legislative Council during the course of the passage of the Bill. The legislature will have to be fully, wholly involved in the implementation of the scheme. So, I think that Chinese officials will recognise this is not a highly politicised, highly partisan measure. It's one that's in the interest of Hong Kong and I hope will get, now that the Legislative Council has made a decision, I hope it will get maximum support.
Question: How do you comment on the survey done by the Police about the resignation rate of senior officers after 1997?
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