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I hope that Chinese officials will be encouraged to develop a dialogue with pro- democracy parties and legislators. I would like them to think again, both about the establishment of a provisional legislature at all, and certainly about the establishment of any such unconstitutional body before July 1, 1997.
I would hope that they would warmly endorse what I said about the importance of standing up for Hong Kong's autonomy and I hope that they would recognise in what I said that, like the rest of the world, I have great confidence in Hong Kong, that Hong Kong can make a spectacular contribution to the continuing success of China's economic revolution but that requires leaders in Peking, above all, to trust Hong Kong which, in my judgement, is the basis for one country, two systems.
Question (Bruce Gilley, The Review): You say you won't do anything to assist the provisional legco to withstand legal challenge, yet if there was a legal challenge wouldn't that just create the destabilising atmosphere that you say you're trying to avoid?
Governor: I think it's reasonable of me to point out that the responsibility for anything which destabilises Hong Kong doesn't lie with those of us who point out just how damaging the establishment of a provisional legislature would be but lies with those who insist on going ahead and establishing a provisional legislature. You know, you can't blame the Hong Kong Government or the British Government if some Chinese officials want to throw stones through the window. We're not responsible for the breaking of the glass. If a questionable institution is established on questionable foundations, doing questionable things, then it stands to reason that it's activities are going to be questioned and that is a point which British Ministers have put very clearly to their Chinese counterparts. It's a point which the Chief Secretary put in Peking, you'll recall, when she went up there and had an important meeting with Director Lu a few months ago. You will recall, I'm sure, the speaking note which she left with the Director, which set out in terms, for example, why a provisional legislature, before July 1, leaving aside the fact that we don't think there should be one at all, why a provisional legislature before the July 1, was wholly unnecessary, as well as reprehensible and unjustifiable, to quote Malcolm Rifkind.
Question (Calvin Lee, Commercial Radio): You said that Hong Kong Government will give assistance to the Chief Executive Designate, does that include to help the provisional legislature if the CE Designate requires it, if not will it break your promise?