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Governor: We have to work extremely hard as we have been doing to deal with illegal immigration. I think that the snake-heads who are organising this awful trade in human beings are involved in an utterly deplorable activity. It puts the lives and the well- being of women and of children at risk, and I can assure you we'll take the firmest possible actions to deal with it. We do of course, recognise the importance of bringing in more rapidly through our quota system, those who will in due course after 1997 have a right to be in Hong Kong and, that's why we've increased the quota from 105 to 150. But of course, many of those who've brought in by these illegal trade won't have any right to be in Hong Kong. And I think that needs to be recognised.
Question: Are you at all discourage stake... this is basically the result of your reform so you are anxious about what happens that they come up... there is a ... vote turnout? Is there a lot of stake here for you personally?
Governor: I think there is a lot of state for the community in both the District Boards and the Municipal Councils. We had the largest number of people ever voting for those levels of representative government. I hope the same is true for the Legislative Council elections. But these arrangements were agreed by the people of Hong Kong. They were agreed by the Legislative Council. They weren't imposed by the Governor. They were the result of a debate with the community and with weeks of debate, months of debate in the Legislative Council. So this is the proposal which the last legislature agreed on. I think they're sensible proposals, I think they're fair proposals, and I think there'll produce a broadly based and credible Legislative Council.
Question: A number of candidates say that they are willing and prepared to join the provisional Legislative Council if they are elected, how do you comment on this?
Governor: There is no need for a provisional Legislative Council. Hong Kong is going to elect a very good Legislative Council on Sunday.
Question: Are you confident this won't be the last democratic elections held in Hong Kong?
Governor: Look around Hong Kong, look at Hong Kong's success, look at the level of education in Hong Kong, look at the sophisticated way in which Hong Kong dominates one market after another around the world. Nobody can seriously suppose that this will be the last free elections in Hong Kong. Whatever the threats, whatever the foot-stamping, Hong Kong is grown up. Hong Kong has developed a civic consciousness. Britain has made promises to Hong Kong, China has made promises to Hong Kong. Hong Kong deserves for those promises to be kept. But I am absolutely convinced that nobody can turn back the momentum behind the development of the institutions of a free society in Hong Kong operating under the rule of law. One more question.