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Mr Rifkind: I don't see any reason at all, no. I think there is a natural interest. The Chinese Government, I understand, have themselves invited journalists to visit the orphanage. It will be very important to know what the assessment of those who visit the orphanage may be as a result of that visit.
Question: China is saying that it might affect bilateral relations. Do you think that that is necessarily the case?
Mr Rifkind: I think that is a reference to a remark made by a gentleman in the embassy in London. I don't believe it is likely to have any material impact on the wider issues. We are not responsible for a television programme. Naturally, there is concern in many parts of the world when there are reports of that kind, but I don't believe it is going to have a material impact with regard to British-Chinese relations.
Question: Mr Rifkind, will you mention the helpless journalist Xi Yang, who have been imprisoned in Beijing for over a year?
Mr Rifkind: When I last met the Chinese Foreign Minister I gave him a list of persons whom we were concerned about and I have no doubt that that kind of issue will also come up in the discussions.
Question: ....concern about Wei Jingsheng, prominent dissident of China....
Mr Rifkind: Representations have already been made with regard to him, both by the United Kingdom and at the European Union level. That happened some time ago when the sentence was originally announced.
Question:.. (inaudible)
Mr Rifkind: I think one of the main benefits of my presence in Hong Kong at the present time and my meeting with LegCo-later on this afternoon, is hearing at first- hand the concerns that are being expressed at this moment in time, both the good developments over the last couple of years, but also some of the worries that still exist and which are very understandable. I see it as part of my obligation to ensure that the Chinese Government are aware of the feelings of the people of Hong Kong, both their hopes for the future and their concerns for the future. It is right and proper that both of these should be taken into account. I believe that the Chinese Government themselves will benefit if they fully understand the views, concerns, wishes of the people of Hong Kong, because only in that way can we ensure the success of the transition which is something we wish to do all within our power to bring about.