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Transcript of the Governor's media session
Following is the transcript of the media session given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at Kai Tak Airport on his return from London today (Sunday);
Governor: Good afternoon. I've had a very successful and interesting trip to London and Scotland. I had good meetings with the Prime Minister and other ministers in London, and good meetings, as well, with Members of Parliament, including Robin Cook, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Paddy Ashdown.
I also, as you know, spoke at a number of functions in London, and then was able, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, to attend our very successful business conference and Hong Kong Promotion. And I would just like to underline how outstandingly successful those events in Scotland were.
There is very great interest in what is happening in Hong Kong, enormous enthusiasm for increasing and developing the relationship between Scotland and Hong Kong, and a great deal of goodwill towards what has been achieved in Hong Kong. So I think that bodes extremely well for the future.
I've got another brief visit to Europe in a couple of weeks time, principally to talk about passport issues, in Paris and Bonn, but also to address the Confederation of British Industry Conference in Harrogate. But that will be a slightly differently focused visit, as I say, because it would mainly be concerned with passport issues and visa-free access.
Question: Governor, what do you think about Mrs Anson Chan not running for the Chief Executive post?
Governor: I think the statement which Mrs Chan has made will further enhance the very high esteem in which she is held by the whole community. I'm sure that people will understand and sympathise with her arguments and will agree very much with what she has said. You don't need me to tell you how highly regarded Mrs Chan is in Hong Kong. Perhaps it is worth my while reminding you how equally highly regarded Mrs Chan is everywhere outside Hong Kong. She has a very considerable international reputation as a decisive and honest leader of great integrity, representing always the best qualities of Hong Kong.
Question: Mr Patten, do you have anything to add to the five points?