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Question: You said ... until the future Chief Executive appears before we look at the assistance to be given to him. But won't you think that it will be too late when he actually appears?
Governor: No, what I said is I'll be happy to answer questions about the assistance which the Chief Executive Designate is going to have when we've got a Chief Executive Designate and when for example I've been able to discuss the situation with him and my senior officials have been able to discuss the situation with him or her. It doesn't made very much sense discussing the situation every other week or every week through the media before we've even got a Chief Executive Designate.
Question: Mr Patten, do you agree that the consensus reached by the Preparatory Committee on the definition of permanent residents in Hong Kong...?
Governor: Well. I've been a little confused about what is exactly that's been agreed. We've been pressing for expert talks with Chinese officials to clear up some of these questions on right of abode. They matter enormously to people in Hong Kong and of course practical questions are going to be asked of officials, Immigration Department officials at Kai Tak and elsewhere which at present they are not in a position to answer. So I think the best thing to happen so that we can clear up some of the doubts is to have early expert talks again and see if we can find out exactly what's intended because the situation I think is still rather confusing to people.
End
Governor visits penal institutions on Lantau
The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, today (Wednesday) visited Shek Pik Prison and Sha Tsui Detention Centre to see the operation and management of facilities at a maximum security prison and the rigorous training programmes for young offenders.
Accompanied by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Raymond Lai Ming-kee, and the Senior Superintendent of Shek Pik Prison, Mr Wai Heung-wing, the Governor called on workshops, the kitchen, the chapel, the prison hospital and inmates' accommodation.
At the reception area of Shek Pik Prison, which came into operation in 1984, the Governor was required to proceed through the security archway, which all visitors must pass on entering the prison.