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Governor's Letter to Hong Kong
The following is the broadcast of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, on Radio Television Hong Kong's "Letter to Hong Kong" this (Sunday) morning:
Later this week, the first Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong will be selected. It will be a proud moment for him, a proud moment for his family, and a proud moment for Hong Kong.
The winner will have gone through a long and, I'm sure, often demanding selection process. But I'm equally sure that he will be pleased that the process didn't exclude public questioning and public campaigning. The candidates have had to say where they stand on the issues. They've had to get out into the community - meeting interest groups and political parties, seeing problems for themselves, discussing livelihood issues and matters of high politics.
The process is a reflection of how much more open Hong Kong has become. People these days expect to be involved, to have access, to be able to ask questions. I'm sure that expectations of doing things in a more accountable way are here to stay.
I've made it clear that once a Chief Executive Designate is chosen, we will extend a warm hand of friendship. We want to co-operate within - naturally enough - the terms of the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. And I believe the whole community will want to see co-operation and a willingness to work together all round. What we are talking about, after all, is securing the good government and the well- being of Hong Kong.
I don't wish to appear unrealistic. The Chief Executive and I are not going to be able to agree on everything. For example, he will know our position on the Provisional Legislature. But I for my part will do all in my power to work closely and sensibly with the Chief Executive (Designate) in the interests of Hong Kong.
It will be in that spirit that we'll be offering the Chief Executive an à la carte menu of co-operation and support, not a table d'hote. We don't want to say, "Here's what we propose
take it or leave it". Nor do we want to overwhelm the Chief Executive with effusive good ideas. He's his own man. He'll have his own plans. His own agenda. His own working style. But I hope that we'll be able to satisfy his requests.
There's one very obvious distinction to make. What happens in Hong Kong after 1997 is his responsibility. It's for him to answer for that, and for him to determine and shape that. Those are not matters for me, and I won't seek to interfere in them.