XN000022-1986-10-12 — Page 24

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THIRD. MY DISCUSSIONS HERE HAVE OBVIOUSLY INCLUDED NEXT YEAR'S PEVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. IT WILL BE A GENUINE REVIEW CONDUCTED, AS IN THE PAST, WITH THOROUGHNESS AND CARE, ALLOWING AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN.

FINALLY, I CAN CONFIRM THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE TO SECURE INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) PASSPORT IS WELL UNDER WAY. I AM SURE THAT THAT ACCEPTANCE WILL BE FORTHCOMING.

THE KEYS TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG ARE CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION: CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF ITS WAY OF LIFE, ITS RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, ITS PROSPERITY AND STABILITY; AND DETERMINATION TO FACE AND OVERCOME EVERY NEW CHALLENGE - A DETERMINATION IN WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN THEMSELVES SECOND TO NONE.

1'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CHINESE LEADERS IN PEKING

WE SHALL BE ABLE TO DURING THE COURSE OF NEXT WEEK'S STATE VISIT. REVIEW PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION AS WELL AS TO DISCUSS MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY VALUABLE THAT SHALL BE ABLE TO TAKE WITH ME A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG'S CONCERNS AND ASPIRATIONS.

NOW YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE.

QUESTION: SIR GEOFFREY, IN VIEW OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT'S BLATANT DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ISSUE, AND ITS OBVIOUS RELUCTANCE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE IF NOT LEADING ROLE IN UPCOMING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, HOW DO YOU THINK THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CAN SALVAGE ITS DISCREDITED IMAGE AND REGAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE?

SIR GEOFFREY: I THINK THAT THERE ARE THREE PREMISES TO THAT QUESTION, EACH OF WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT PLAIN THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. THAT HAS BEEN REAFFIRMED AND CONFIRMED IN THE STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER THE TALKS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHERS IN DOWNING STREET LAST MONTH. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ALIKE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG NOT ONLY WHEN DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM THE REVIEW BUT IN OTHER MATTERS AS WELL.

QUESTION: IS IT TRUE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS THAT THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO HONG KONG IN 1988?

ALIA GEOFFREY: