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Governor: No, What is true is what they actually reported on the record because that part of my discussion with them was entirely on the record and let me tell you what is on the record and then you can decide what you think it means. When asked about my future intentions, I said I didn't intend making up my mind until after I've completed this job and I went on to say that I didn't rule in trying to get back into British politics and I didn't rule out trying to get back to British politics. That sounds to me about as neutral as one can get in the circumstances though some people wrote it up a bit. I think that sometimes happens in newsrooms.
Question: Yesterday John major when talking about confidence levels in Hong Kong. he talked about how the eyes of the world will be on Hong Kong after it reverts to Chinese rule. China today announced it is going to stage missile test in the sea north of Taiwan. What effect do you think the missile tests have on people's confidence ...?
Governor: I think that people look at what's happening in the region as a whole and it affects their confidence both today and their confidence in the future. I don't want to get involved in arguments that take place elsewhere in the region. Life is difficult enough without that. But I very much hope that all those disputes and arguments can be settled amicably and peacefully and through negotiation. This is a community more than most others which reads the newspapers and watches the television and knows what's going on and we know from previous events that these matters do have an impact on public opinion and do have an impact on sentiment and do have an impact on confidence. So, I hope that we'll see a peaceful and negotiated settlement of all these matters which are obviously of considerable consequence.
Question: The Chinese are likely to say what John Major has done is to internationalise the Hong Kong issue and ... he mustn't drag the Hong Kong issue into the international arena ...?
Governor: Next year, there will be some people think three, four, five, six thousand journalists from all over the world in Hong Kong to report what happens in June and July. Why are they here? Because what happens in Hong Kong is of interest to the whole world. It's of interest to the whole world for a number of reasons partly because it is one of the most open cities anywhere, partly because it is a city which culturally, economically, socially is not only at the hub of Asia, but at the cross-roads between Asia, North America and Europe. Whatever anybody may like, whatever any united front editorialist may write. Hong Kong is going to remain at the top of the world's interest for some time to come. It's also of course true that the treaty which guarantees Hong Kong's way of life for the indefinite future is lodged at the United Nations. It is true that our human rights, our civil liberties here in Hong Kong are guaranteed by international covenants which are agreed by the United Nations. So, nobody should kid themselves that Hong Kong is somehow going to be lost to public view internationally in 1997 or thereafter. Hong Kong is going to be a very big issue as far as the world is concerned and I am sure the world is going to want to see Hong Kong as successful after 1997 as it's heen before 1997. It will be, provided it's way of life is maintained. Thank You.
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