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Question: Any other officials to go with Mrs Chan?
Governor: I think you'd better wait for the announcement this afternoon. But it's an important visit and I'm sure you will expect her to be accompanied by one or two other officials.
Question: Our trip to Washington...
Governor: That's an official visit. Or private. I might be going as the husband of Lavender Patten, or I might be going as Governor of Hong Kong. I'm going as Governor of Hong Kong.
Question: Your expectations? ... focused on MFN .....?
Governor: Yes. My trip will focus on MFN. I'm going as you know first of all to Canada. I'm then going on to the United States where, after a couple of days in New York, I'll be spending most of my time in Washington. I imagine that I'll be asked other questions. I'll hope to have discussions with trade officials about issues like intellectual property and the measures that we've taken in Hong Kong to deal with piracy. I'll want to answer any questions which American Congressmen may have about Vietnamese migrants for example. But overwhelmingly the trip will be focused on MFN. And I'm pleased that two very senior members of the Democrats from Hong Kong have been in the United States over the last few days arguing very convincingly for renewed MFN without conditions. I think that they've done a great service to Hong Kong in putting the arguments so vigorously for unconditional MFN renewal.
Question: Do you think there is any clash between yourself and Mr Lee in terms of ...?
Governor: Not remotely. Mr Lee is a highly respected political leader from Hong Kong who can point out that he commands, or his party commands, between 60 and 70 per cent of support in Hong Kong. That gives him very considerable credibility in the United States. And I'm very pleased that he's used that credibility to speak up for economic freedom and to speak up as well for a good trade relationship between the United States and China. Not surprisingly when asked questions he's talked about other issues as well. That's his perfect right and he's done it with his usual courage and tenacity. Thank you very much indeed.
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