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Governor's "Letter to Hong Kong"
Following is the full text of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's broadcast on RTHK's "Letter to Hong Kong" this (Sunday) morning:
Well, it hasn't been a boring week. So much has happened here that has a direct bearing on our futures in Hong Kong.
We had the visit by Britain's Prime Minister, John Major, who was clearly moved by the warmth of his reception. We've had our Budget - the first Budget ever delivered by a local Hong Kong public servant, Donald Tsang. And there's been the National People's Congress in Peking, and much else besides.
I'd like to start with the announcement made by the Prime Minister about visa free entry to Britain. Why did that matter so much? Why should we be so pleased that Britain is offering something, when it is no longer the sovereign power, which those who will be affected don't actually enjoy today?
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The answer is simple. Our future success like our past - will depend as much as anything on Hong Kong remaining an open, international city. Sovereignty changes, but that should remain the same. An open city - open to ideas, open to trade, open to people, businessmen, tourists, relatives, first-time visitors, would-be investors, people from every land and every continent. Start closing some of the doors, start interrupting the flow, and Hong Kong rapidly ceases to be the New York of Asia.
So Britain's lead on visa free access was important. It was a gesture of confidence in our continuing success as an open society and a crucial way of helping to maintain that success.
What now stems from that?
First, we've got to persuade others to follow Britain's example. That's what the British Government will be helping us to try to do in the coming weeks.
I hope that the European Union countries will lead the way. After all, European Presidents and Premiers have just been in Bangkok with their Asian opposite numbers pledging their determination to work hand-in-glove with the emerging Asian nations. What better way of underlining all that rhetoric, what better way to use some English slang - of Europe putting its money where its mouth is, than to put visa free access where Europe's mouth is. I'll be pressing for that in speeches, and perhaps one or two visits if necessary, during this year.
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