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I think if the honourable member looks back he may find in history rather more examples of Executive Council members speaking out for themselves in years past than there have been in the last four years but what I've said about collective responsibility doesn't mean that the principle doesn't still apply. It has to be implemented in a sensitive and sensible way, that's how I'll continue to do it and I hope that we have as broadly based an Executive Council as long as possible because I think, particularly at this difficult and challenging period for Hong Kong, it's helpful to have as broad a base of advice as I can possibly get.
The President: And be fairly tolerant of the wits too?
Governor: And be tolerant of the ?
The President: Wits.
Governor: Wits, whips, tolerant of everybody.
Mr Ngan Kam-chuen (in Chinese): Mr Governor, as Governor of Hong Kong you face the provisional legislature that is to be set up by the future sovereignty; your criticisms, are they appropriate and are you barring your officials from co-operating with the provisional legislature?
Governor: The provisional legislature has nothing to do with me. If Chinese officials want to set one up as a Chinese institution, then it would be impertinent of me to involve myself in it. All I am saying to the honourable gentleman is that it has nothing to do with the Government of Hong Kong between now and the 30 June 1997. If Chinese officials, or others, wish to make preparations for the position after 1997 then that is their matter but the provisional legislature does not have a constitutional position in Hong Kong. If it has a legal position at all, that is for Chinese officials to justify. But I repeat, it is nothing to do with me.
Mr Ngan Kam-chuen (in Chinese): Well, you may have the team designate and they will have to work with the provisional legislature probably, and would you ask them to resign from the Hong Kong Government then?
Governor: I don't understand what the honourable gentleman means about them working with the provisional legislature. What is the honourable gentleman suggesting that the provisional legislature will do? Is he suggesting that before 30 June 1997 it will pass laws? It can't. What is he suggesting? What happens after 1 July 1997 isn't my business, though I have an interest in it.