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Governor: Well, there may well be other ways in which they want to be assisted. They may want some of them who don't know Hong Kong as well as one would like ⚫ to learn more about Hong Kong, to be shown parts of Hong Kong's life which they may not be familiar with. There are all sorts of practical ways in which they may need help and I think the community would expect us to provide that help. But I know perfectly well that this Legislative Council will press us on exactly what help we're giving and since, as I said, there are likely to be members of this Council on the Preparatory Committee, it would be foolish of us to contemplate - even if we wished to do so which we don't to hide from the Council what in general we were doing to help the Preparatory Committee.
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President: Miss Chan Yuen-han.
Miss Chan Yuen-han (in Chinese): Mr Governor, I have a question. In relation to your Policy Address it's silent on the application of CEDAW in Hong Kong. Does that mean that you have no intention of doing so?
Governor: No. It's still our intention to work for the application of CEDAW to Hong Kong and though I don't have all the policy commitments to hand, I think were I to do so I would be able to find a specific reference to that in the policy commitments of my distinguished colleague the Secretary for Home Affairs.
President: Do you have a follow-up Miss Chan?
Miss Chan Yuen-han (in Chinese): Yes. In the policy commitment we haven't got any specific timetable. It's said that there is such an intention. This question in fact has been discussed at the Legislative Council for quite some time and I would like a specific timetable.
Governor: I think that perhaps the lack of specificity about the timetable is because we're discussing the issue both with the present and the future sovereign, the exact timing. But I can assure the Honourable Member that we have no intention to do other than apply CEDAW, with those appropriate reservations which have been discussed in the Council, as rapidly as possible. It would be strange were it otherwise because both the present and the future sovereign, both as I recall apply CEDAW.
President: Miss Emily Lau.