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Governor: I think that's principally a matter for the Commissioner himself, but obviously there is a distinction between whether or not officers, members of the Correctional Services Department or Police officers are gambling in a way which runs. up debts or whether on the other hand the inmates, those who are in prison, are running up debts and that's a matter for the day-to-day management of the Correctional Services Department. And I am sure the Commissioner will be very happy to answer that question later on.
Question: The question of ethnic minority was discussed today in ExCo. Are you any more optimistic that there might be a resolution...?
Governor: It wasn't actually discussed in the ExCo, but we received a petition from a group of Hong Kong citizens representing the ethnic minorities. As you know, it's a case and the course which I've pressed with ministers and other politicians in the United Kingdom and with the media, and we'll continue to do so and I hope that before July 1, 1997, we'll have seen some more progress on that.
Question: The LegCo is going to move a motion requesting Britain to grant visa-free to SAR passport holders. Do you have any news from your colleagues in the British cabinet on this issue?
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Governor: The first thing that needed to happen was to get an agreement with Chinese officials about the SAR passport itself and I am delighted that we achieved that just before Mr Rifkind's visit to Peking. As Mr Rifkind said at the time, having got that agreement with Chinese officials we can now discuss with the British Government the question of visa-free access for SAR passport holders to the United Kingdom. I noticed the other day that Director Lu in some remarks he made seemed to be less optimistic about the number of countries which would offer visa-free access. I hope that's not correct. I think that we must obviously do all we can, working together Britain, China and the Hong Kong Government to get as much visa-free access as possible. Hong Kong is an international community. Travel into and out of Hong Kong is an exceptional important both for business reasons and in order to enhance people's well-being and maintain their confidence. So I very much hope that a number of countries, including of course, the United Kingdom, will offer visa-free access. I argued for it publicly when I was in the United Kingdom last Autumn including in television programmes. And I hope that will help to convince the British Government. Thank you very much.
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