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Transcript of the Governor's media session
Following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after visiting Tai Po District this (Wednesday) afternoon:
Governor: I'm pleased to have been able to pay another visit to Tai Po, a district which I know pretty well. I walk here quite often and I come to church from time to time as well. But it was good to have another official visit to the District Board and to be able to discuss some of their problems and challenges with them.
Perhaps I should add one other thing about my programme today. I had a meeting this morning with the Philippines Foreign Minister Mr Siason in which we discussed a number of issues, including the position of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong. I told him what a valuable contribution the almost 130,000 Filipino domestic helpers make to the life of our community. I said that I saw no reason why their position should change after 1997, but pointed out that that was entirely a matter for the SAR Government under article 166 of the Basic Law. I also noted that a number of senior Chinese officials had given exactly the same reassurance both to Filipino ministers and had given the same reassurances unofficially to us in Hong Kong as well. But he confirmed that they had had those reassurances from senior Chinese officials. So I think that was a useful point to come out of that meeting, a confirmation that policy regarding the Filipino domestic helpers is entirely a matter for the SAR Government. And I don't imagine that policy on that issue would be changed substantially from what it is today. People make a very big contribution today and I'm sure that that contribution will be wanted in the future.
Question: Mr Governor, there is a report saying that Jiang Zemin and Heseltine had compromised that the SAR Chief Executive should be accepted by the British Government. Is that true?
Governor: No. I think that Mr Heseltine and Mr Jiang Zemin had a very useful discussion about a number of issues including the selection of the Chief Executive. But the President's views on that were made clear I think either the same day or the following day by the Foreign Ministry press spokesman who was in Zhuhai with the President. But I can't add anything to that.
Question: Governor, much has been, made on the last two weeks on expression of freedom ...