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Transcript of Governor's media session
The following is a transcript of the media session given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after presiding over the Hong Kong Institute of Education graduation ceremony at the Hong Kong Coliseum, Hung Hom, this (Wednesday) afternoon:
Question: Can you talk about Bill Clinton who has been re-elected. Do you think there will be any impact to Hong Kong?
Governor: I don't think that the results of the election should make any difference to Hong Kong. As you may remember, I met President Clinton and Senator Dole when I was in the United States in May. They were both very well briefed on Hong Kong and both very supportive of Hong Kong recognising that Hong Kong's future success is important to the region, is important to APEC, and is important to the world. So, I don't think there would have been any difference whatever the outcome. But given that the president's election victory and I'd like to congratulate him very warmly. It is obviously a substantial victory. I very much hope that American policy will continue to be as helpful and supportive of Hong Kong as it has been over the last several years.
Question: Governor, in the morning you said you worried about self-censorship ......before 1997. Why are you worried about that? Is there any phenomenon so that there is self-censorship of journalists of Hong Kong?
Governor: I think all of you know it's a point that has been put to me on a number of occasions by a number of people including in the past proprietors and I think the views that I reflected not just this morning, but on a number of occasions, reflect a general view in the society. I think it would be very sad if we gave away some of our freedoms, rather than standing up for them. And obviously, editorial independence and independent commentary is an important part of life in a free society. You may have noticed from time to time that newspapers and the media criticise the Governor and the government. Well, whether or not we like it, that is part of living in a free society, and I think Hong Kong would be much the poorer, both as a society and as an economy if we would lose that editorial independence, that freedom of speech or give it away. And that is the point that I have made on a number of occasions.
Question: Why you avoid on comments on Chinese side have revealed confidential information of PLA advance group. Do you think Hong Kong government has over reacted on this issue?