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Governor: Well, it's a pretty odd criticism for those United Front activists to make because after all, they were party - China was party to an agreement in which the steady development of democracy in Hong Kong was agreed. Why was it agreed? In order to underpin, in order to secure all the promises that were made to people in Hong Kong, China entered into those agreements freely. And if you look at what has been agreed, the process of democratisation doesn't finish in 1997, it's supposed to speed up after 1997. So the question is not whether the process of democratisation is a last minute British effort, because it's actually an agreement between China and Britain. The question is this: is China committed to real democratisation or is it committed to a sort of cardboard cut-out version? Is it committed to a counterfeit version? The question is are we to have elections which are genuinely fair? Or are we to have elections, the main purpose of which is to secure a given objective?
Let me ask you this question. People sometimes say the Chinese are going to dismantle the Legislative Council, they want to put other arrangements in its place. Do you suppose they want, if that is true, to put arrangements in its place which are more fair, which are more free, which give us an even more democratic Legislature? If that's what they want, then it would be very nice to hear that. But what we all know is they're committed to one step after another towards democratisation, leading eventually to a wholly directly elected Legislative Council, either eight years after 1997 or shortly thereafter if the Legislative Council wants. That's what they are committed to.
Speaker: Governor, you are very concerned about the future of the people of Hong Kong and the people of Hong Kong are very concerned about your future.
Governor: Ha, ha, that's why you gave me the biscuit.
Speaker: You have said that whoever would ask whether you would stay until 30 June 1997, you would punish him for $500 donation for the Hong Kong Journalist's Association. We don't want to be punished and we do not want an answer which is worth only $500. I would like to ask you, however, on the hand-over ceremony itself, which position will you be taking?
Governor: I don't know. And I don't know which position Chinese officials will be taking. What I do know is that the question of which Chinese officials take part in particular aspects of the hand-over ceremony is a matter for China, and the question of which British officials take part in the hand-over ceremony, in particular parts of the hand-over ceremony, is a matter for Britain. I wouldn't be so impertinent as to suggest who was going to represent China and I'm sure the reverse is true as well. But what I promise you is that I will be part of the British team and party and that I will be leaving Hong Kong just before midnight on 30 June 1997, sad at having to leave but I trust optimistic about the future which Hong Kong can look forward to after that.