Governor: I don't think there is an analogy between those cases and to be perfectly honest, Francis, as you perfectly well know those decisions are the decisions that are made by the Attorney Chambers, that are made on the advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions. And I would no more dream of trying to politicise those sort of decisions than I would dream of politicising something spiritual.
Question: Qian Qichen, when he met with Lee Pengfai in Beijing, he mentioned that Legco has been, you know, passing laws on-going, that is not to China's approval. And now that the MPF has been passed. Do you think that it will further to infuriate China?
Governor: No. I think that clearly it's approved by the people of Hong Kong. And we've got to remember that one of the principles in which we all believe, not least, our friends and colleagues in Peking is the principle of Hong Kong people running Hong Kong with high a degree of autonomy. Thank you very much.
End/Friday, July 28, 1995
Financial services agreement reached
An agreement on trade in financial services was finally reached today (Friday) in Geneva among the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Members after nine years of negotiation and a one-month extension of the agreed deadline. "The successful conclusion of the WTO agreement to liberalise financial services is definitely good news and we must hope that the US decides to sign up too later," commented the Financial Secretary, Sir Hamish Macleod. Despite the US's last minute refusal to maintain most of its offers on an MFN basis, other members, including Hong Kong, have chosen not to withdraw their improved, MFN based offers.
"This shows that most WTO Members share a strong commitment to the multilatéral trading system, and in particular to the further liberalisation of trade in this important sector," said Sir Hamish.
"The European Union should be applauded for its leadership in keeping up the momentum. I am particularly glad that Hong Kong and others have responded quickly and constructively to achieve a wide base of support for securing an agreement."