XN000022-1983-08-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1983

WE ARE A LISTENING GOVERNMENT SIR PHILIP

****

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE STRESSED AGAIN TODAY THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC OPINION.

HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS DURING HIS VISIT TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO LOOK OVER ITS FACILITIES.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF SIR PHILIP'S REMARKS ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS 1

CONCERNING HIS REPLY TO A LETTER BY A STUDENT GROUP ON THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OPINION, THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID:

A. +1 AM VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THEY ARE UNSATISFIED. I WROTE THE LETTER CAREFULLY AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MESSAGE I TRIED TO GET ACROSS DIDN'T GET THROUGH,

Q.

A.

Q.

A,

Q.

A

THEY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC OPINION AND I SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC OPINION.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO BE SAID. THAT'S MY VIEWS AND THAT'S THE IRS. AND I BELIEVE MINE TO BE RIGHT.

HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT THE HEUNG YEE KUK PEOPLE SAID THE IR OPINIONS ARE ALWAYS NEGLECTED?

WELL THAT'S THE OPINION OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK. NOT MINE.

IN FACT I'LL BE SEEING THE HEUNG YEE KUK, I THINK, ON FRIDAY MORNING BECAUSE THEY RECENTLY SAW THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND HAD A DISCUSSION WITH HIM AND THEY WERE APPARENTLY NOT VERY SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE DISCUSSION. I DO NOT KNOW WHY. SO I'VE AGREED TO SEE THEM, BECAUSE WE'RE A LISTENING GOVERNMENT, AND WE LISTEN TO PUBLIC OPINION.

BUT THEY ARE THREATENING THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT LISTEN TO PUBLIC OPINION THEY WILL RUN THE NT BY THEMSELVES.

I SEE. WELL I NOTE THE THREAT, I'LL SAY NO MORE.

I KNOW A LOT OF LEGCO MEMBERS' TERMS WILL EXPIRE THIS YEAR

THE TERMS OF APPOINTMENT OF ALL MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND THEREFORE THERE WILL BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN DUE COURSE OF APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS.

WILL THERE BE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE RECRUITED ?

Q.

A

I THINK YOU SHOULD WAIT UNTIL WE MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Q.

WHEN WILL THE ANNOUNCEMENT BE MADE ?

A

BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. BECAUSE THEIR PRESENT APPOINTMENTS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH,

Q. WOULD YOU