Mr Martin Lee: Governor, how do you convince the doubting Thomas's, and there are plenty both here and in the UK, that you still have the full support of the British Government on all your policies?
Governor: Well, let's divide doubting Thomas's into two categories. In the one category are those, who when they see the wounds in the upper room are prepared to believe. In the second category are those who, whatever they see in the upper room, go on with the same arguments because what they're in the nature of doing is propagandising rather than seeking out the truth. The fact of the matter is that the policies pursued on behalf of the sovereign power here in Hong Kong, in the interests, I hope, of the people of Hong Kong, are policies on which the Governor of Hong Kong, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Cabinet and I am pleased to say, the overwhelming majority of Members of Parliament at Westminster, are entirely agreed. If you look at British domestic politics you may have noticed that there are some issues on which there isn't that unanimity of view. But I am delighted that as far as policy on Hong Kong is concerned, we have been able since I became Governor in 1992, to have a broad measure of cross party support, as well as having the total support of Her Majesty's Government.
So, while I'm sure the question will continue to be raised until the 30th June, 1997, just as the question of my departure will continue to be raised, despite $500 fines, until the 30th June, 1997, they both fall into the realms of propaganda rather than the real concern about the truth.
As far as my own position, and I will stop teetering on the brink of blasphemy at this point. As far as my own position and relationship with the British Government is concerned, no act of faith is required.
Mr Martin Lee: But Governor, maybe I started this analogy, but wounds are not the sort of thing that the people of Hong Kong would love to see. But using this analogy, continuing with it, what are the sacred wounds that you can actually show us in the upper room?
Governor: I really do think that Cardinal Woo and others would wish to intervene at this point in the proceedings. On every aspect of the policy which we have pursued in Hong Kong; the difficult negotiations that we undertook on electoral arrangements; the decision that we took that this Council had to decide how far Hong Kong was to go in meeting the promises that had been made on fair elections; the negotiations on the airport; the negotiations on which the honourable member and I weren't entirely at one on the Court of Final Appeal; the position taken by Hong Kong Government and the British Government over the future of civil liberties in Hong Kong and the Bill of Rights; on every one of those issues the British Government and the Governor of Hong Kong are at one. Were it otherwise life would be far too complicated and far too difficult. Were it otherwise I'm not sure that I would be able to discharge my responsibilities as I wish to do and as the people of Hong Kong wish me to do.