17

-

Governor: was a trifle unfair. We have actually made significant progress in cleaning up air quality, though there is further to go. We have invested about nine billion in our sewage strategy which by 1997 will have reduced the pollution load in the harbour by about 70%. And as for employment - and I wonder if you know what the figures actually are; they went up to about 3.5%, they have been edging down to just over 3%, and one of the main reasons for that is that while we have been - and the last quarter's figures show this - while we have been increasing the creation of jobs by over 4%, the number of people coming into Hong Kong, both returning immigrants and legal immigrants from China, has gone up by slightly more than that, so we have been in the position where we have been creating more jobs but more people have been coming into Hong Kong.

When I look at the overall economy I see an economy which has increased by 25% pretty well, after allowing for the increase in prices since I arrived as Governor, and I am pretty pleased about that. But anyway, I am sorry we have not satisfied you on everything.

Question: You have not satisfied me and I hope you satisfy the future voters of Britain but I won't be there to enjoy your government.

Governor: Oh, I am sorry about that. I will greatly miss you.

Question: You should resign. Bye, bye.

Presenter: Thank you very much. I am sure the Governor is not going to resign on this special bilingual phone-in and I don't think you are even looking for votes in the UK, are you Mr Patten?

Governor: I am not but I think he had decided his view of history before he came on the line.

Question (in Chinese): My respected Governor, I like to give you this name but you will be a famous person down the ages. I thank you for standing up for human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong, we really respect you. I can tell you this, well the sunset is beautiful but it is nearly night. Next year I hope you will invite me to the handover ceremony, I hope I will be a good friend of yours forever. When you return to Britain I hope that you will still speak up for Hong Kong. I really hope that I can shake your hand in 1997, I hope I will be invited. Can you hear me please?

Share This Page