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Transcript of the Governor's press conference
Following is the transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's press conference held after his 1996 Policy Address to the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Governor: Almost Happy Birthday! OK, I've said enough for the last hour and a half. You've got about half an hour. If you'd like to follow the normal rules and let us have your name and organisation, even if you know that I know who you are, and I'll try to call a balance between the local correspondents and the international. Any hands, it's not obligatory.
Question (Express News): You just have one anxiety, is that all for Hong Kong?
Governor: Sorry?
Question: You just have one anxiety for Hong Kong, is that all? After 1997.
Governor: I'm not... I think the question was 'do I just have one anxiety for Hong Kong after 1997?" I think that may be focusing on a slightly over-literary interpretation of something that I said in my speech, but I'm not quite sure which part of my speech you're referring to.
My principle concern is obviously, as is that of other people, that the governance of Hong Kong after 1997 should be entirely in line with the Joint Declaration, and that Hong Kong should continue to be a free plural society, a liberal market economy operating under the rule of law. I set out at the end of my speech some benchmarks which I was sure the world would be looking at in the years ahead and those pretty well describe the free society which Hong Kong is today and which I trust Hong Kong will remain.
Question (Martin Bell, BBC): I have a question about the effect of your speech. What difference do you think it might make, especially in Beijing, the words of the soon to be Ex-Governor?
Governor: Ex in nine months and then there will be nothing more ex.
I very much hope that Chinese officials will recognise that the way Hong Kong has been governed and the values which have underpinned the policies pursued by the Government and the reasons for Hong Kong's success, that all those things should be allowed to continue and flourish after 1997.