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Question: So you are saying that Mr Tung's personal commitment is not enough, that
Governor: I am saying that in a society in which the rule of law determines our behaviour and determines the balance between the individual and society's overall needs, it is the rule of law that we have to put our trust in. If the law is changed, you can't go into court and say, "Ah, but this or that political leader said it would be all right". The law is the law. So I welcome, of course, what Mr Tung said, and I am sure he meant what he said, but I think it just raises question marks about why there are going to be changes on the law, on demonstrations for example, if nobody is going to be stopped from demonstrating.
Question: Governor, the British Election is coming, so what do you think about the outcome? And will the outcome concern a different policy towards Hong Kong?
Governor: As I am sure you appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the outcome of the General Election in the United Kingdom, but I will give you a forecast. The General Election will be won by either the Labour Party or the Conservative Party, or perhaps the Liberal Democratic Party, but I don't think I want to say any more than that.
Let me now deal with the serious point you raised as far as Hong Kong is concerned. Policy on Hong Kong has had cross-party support at Westminster. That has been very important for us in Hong Kong over the last few years and I don't believe that will change for one moment, whatever happens in the ballot-box in the United Kingdom tomorrow. I have kept in regular touch with the Prime Minister and ministers. I have kept equally in very close touch with leaders of the opposition; with the present Leader of the Labour Party, with the past Leader of the Labour Party, John Smith, with both the Labour Shadow Foreign Secretaries who have been in post while I have been Governor, and with their deputies and with the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party. So my own judgment is that whatever the outcome, there won't be any change in the position as far as Hong Kong is concerned.
Question: Governor, do you think you have been co-operative with the SAR Government, because the residents were protesting that you should be more co- operative?
Governor: I think there were a small handful of United Front friends downstairs. I think that, as you well know, the Joint Declaration talks about Chinese officials co- operating with the Hong Kong Government up to 30 June, and I would like to see a bit more of that. I would like to see people co-operating sensibly with the Legislative Council which is the only constitutional legislature that we have in Hong Kong.