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Governor: No, what I said was that it seemed to me that ideally, in a sensible world there would be a jointly agreed handover ceremony which would ensure that the SAR Government got off to the best possible start. The whole world will be looking at what happens in the middle of 1997 and I think frankly, the whole world as well as the community in Hong Kong will be somewhat surprised if we are not able to agree even on the mechanics of a handover ceremony. It's not the biggest problem that we have to tackle. I went on to say that is what we all hope will happen and that's what the British and Chinese Foreign Ministers presumably wish to see happen. I can certainly speak for Mr Rifkind in saying that's what he would like to see happen. But we would all be, I think, a little surprised, if we have to spend month after month talking about this. There're so many much more important issues for us to discuss. Still issues like right of abode which need to be sorted out. One of the issues which presumably last week's events here indicate that it is a very important one for people in Hong Kong. So the point 1 was making was that it would be very sad if we weren't able to agree a handover ceremony but we can't sacrifice everything else in order to have meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. These things in any other circumstances would be very straight forward, would be very easy to resolve, would be settled in one or two meetings and I am sorry it proves so difficult with Chinese officials. One last question.
Question: On naturalisation... These people will be placed in a very odd situation having to swear allegiance to the Queen in nearly a year before the territory reverts to Chinese rule. What advice do you have ...?
Governor: The advice I have for them is to look at the assurances which have been given on passport naturalisation and travel issues by Chinese officials, the assurances which have been given on a number of occasions not least in documentary form and to take those reassurances to heart when they fill out their application forms and when they go through the other processes of applying for naturalisation. I am sure that Chinese officials recognise what six million people in Hong Kong know perfectly well that this as I said earlier is an international community and that if it is to remain successful and stable and prosperous, it will remain an international community; an international community happens to travel rather a lot.
Question: Governor Patten, you said it's not the right time to bring it up with Mr Major about bringing international community in on the breaches of the Joint Declaration at this time...?