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Transcript of the Governor's media session
Following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after visiting the Islands District this (Wednesday) afternoon:
Governor: I'm pleased to have been able to pay my third visit to this district, though it's my first visit... to Peng Chau, but I'm looking forward to coming back again. It's such a beautiful island. I'm pleased to these excellent facilities for the people who live on the island.
Question: Mr Patten. In the second day discussion of the JLG, the Chinese side has said that it is the business of the Chinese side to resolve the right of abode problem. Do you think this is the right ...?
Governor: Well. I wish it would be resolved quickly and to the satisfaction of people in Hong Kong. I think it is one of the issues which has caused the most anxiety and worry. People want certainty. You need some time to be able to plan for your future. There is only just over 500 days to go until the transition and people want to have the maximum time and the maximum confidence in the arrangements that will exist after 1997. Now, when the Foreign Secretary Mr Rifkind saw the Vice Premier Mr Qian Qichen in Peking a few weeks ago, Mr Qian made it perfectly clear without any qualification that those who were permanent residents before 1997 would be permanent residents after 1997. It was just a question, he said, of working out the way in which that should be done. So there appears to be no difference, or no difficulty about the principle. And I think the sooner Chinese officials make it clear what the arrangements will be the better.
Question: But the Chinese officials said that they would only listen to idea from the British side in an informal expert meeting. Do you think there is a much more proper way to have a formal meeting with the Chinese side to have discussion on this matter?
Governor: What actually matters is to have arrangements which are good for Hong Kong announced quickly. What is the problem? Mr Qian has said what the principle is and we were delighted to have that assurance. Now we want to see the way in which that principle is going to be applied. I do think that Chinese officials should be aware of what the effect of their words is sometimes. People are concerned about an issue like this. They do want to have confidence in the future and the sooner sensible proposals can come forward the better.
Question: Do you expect the JLG to reach an agreement ...?