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Governor: No, what I said was I saw no particular reason to reiterate a commitment which Mr Major has made vigorously in Hong Kong. It is a commitment which I've made, it's a commitment which the British Government has made. There is no particular reason why we need to keep on figuring such a commitment.
Question: Do you think that this issue has become even more important because the civil service will be caught in between? What happens now if there is a Joint Declaration breach with the provisional LegCo, then it is actually sucking in Hong Kong's civil service in the whole issue?
Governor: No. I read what's apparently people said while taking tea and then I read explanations of what it'd actually been meant. And I read remarks which were said to be clearing up any confusions about what had been said. And I remain though I think a lot of people did a trifle confused. But I hope that the civil service itself won't be too bothered about what happened last week as I have said on many occasions that one of the reasons for Hong Kong's success is the integrity and morale and commitment and professionalism of our civil service and anybody who wants Hong Kong to remain as a greatest city as it is today will recognise the importance of those qualities continuing after 1997.
Question: Governor, are you still concerned about your visit to London? Will you step up security...?
Governor: I trust...
End
Transcript of the Governor's media session after ExCo
Following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after attending the Executive Council meeting this (Tuesday) morning:
Governor: I'll save you the problem of going out to the airport this evening. As you know, I'm going to Europe and having a couple of days over the Easter weekend with my family, and then having meetings in London and Northern Ireland. And I'm back on the week on Sunday.