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Transcript of the Governor's media session
The following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at the airport on his return from London today (Sunday):
Governor: Thank you for coming out to the airport on a Sunday afternoon to welcome me back. I've had a good and very full visit to Britain. A number of useful meetings with the Prime Minister and other senior ministers. I made several speeches about Hong Kong and one about relationship between Hong Kong and Asia and Europe which I think have begun a debate. I've been able to talk to ministers about a number of issues of concern here in Hong Kong including the Bill of Rights. All together it was a visit which enabled me once again for example at the Trade Development Council dinner last Thursday to see how much support there is in Britain for what we are trying to do in Hong Kong as well as how much interest there is both at the business conference last Monday and at the TDC dinner, that interest in Hong Kong was apparent. People are very concerned about Hong Kong's position today and Hong Kong's future. I think by and large confident that Hong Kong will continue to be one of the great economic success stories of the world provided that we are able to hang on to our way of doing things and our way of life.
Question: ...some sorts of disappointment with the treatment that you received by the Chinese authorities. Why you take this personally? Are they attacking you personally or are they attacking the office of the Governor?
Governor: I was asked questions I've been asked before and made answers that I've given before. I think if you look around the world it's impossible to see any where else where people behave as some Chinese officials do. But we get on with life. We don't let it get us down.
Question: Can you try to comment on speculation by British MPs that you will be... before 1997...?