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- 3 -
Question: Will the fact that private conversation was revealed make it much more difficult for senior officials to have private conversations in future during the transition, in the Liaison Group, etc, without fear of being embarrassed?
Governor: I hope not.
Question: Would you care to explain?
Governor: Well, we have, as you know, as a result of the meeting between Malcolm Rifkind and Mr Qian Qichen, got an agreement on the basis of proposals we put forward for informal discussions between our officials and Chinese officials. Those meetings will take place under an umbrella provided by the Civil Service Branch and I don't think there should be any of the sort of problems that you mention. But people wouldn't be human if they didn't note what had happened recently and I dare say learn one or two lessons for themselves. Thank you very much indeed.
Question: Mr Patten, is the British side going to seek any clarification from the Chinese side (on) what Mr Qian Qichen said about the simple declaration meant? And do you think it is good news for Hong Kong people that what the PWC suggested that was meant, and it's not necessary to publicise and discuss it?
Governor: I didn't hear the first part of the question.
Question: Is the British Government going to seek any clarification from the Chinese side about what Mr Qian Qichen said about the simple declaration -- you know -- ?
Governor: We will, as I said in reply to an earlier question, be continuing our discussions on right of abode, nationality and related issues, in the Joint Liaison Group. And the sooner we can reach an agreement the better because these are issues which I think concern people, they have personal as well as commercial implications, and the sooner we can sort them out the better. Thank you very much.
End/Monday, November 20, 1995