XN000022-1987-01-16 — Page 35

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1987

OF SOME 25 YEARS OR MORE. I WAS IN HONG KONG AS A STUDENT AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND I SPENT FOUR VERY HAPPY YEARS AS POLITICAL ADVISER TO AN EARLIER DISTINGUISHED GOVERNOR, LORD MACLEHOSE. I HAVE THE GREATEST ADMIRATION FOR THE THRIVING SOCIETY AND ECONOMY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UP IN HONG KONG, I HAVE COME TO KNOW AND TO HAVE THE GREATEST CONFIDENCE IN THOSE WHO ARE NOW GOING TO BE ADVISING ME. BOTH COUNCILLORS AND OFFICIALS. I PLAN TO TAKE UP MY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES IN EARLY APRIL AND BEFORE THEN I SHALL BE STARTING TO BRIEF MYSELF AS FULLY AS POSSIBLY CAN ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE TERRITORY AND ITS ADMINISTRATION AND I SHALL BE TAKING TIME TO MEET KEY PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH HONG KONG AFFAIRS. I KNOW THAT I HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO LEARN BOTH

IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AND AFTER I HAVE TAKEN UP MY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. MEANWHILE UNTIL I TAKE UP MY APPOINTMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE VERY CAPABLE HANDS OF SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE WAY IN WHICH SIR DAVID AND THE CIVIL SERVICE HAVE MANAGED SMOOTHLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO MAINTAIN THE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG DESPITE THE SUDDEN AND TRAGIC DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE. I THINK THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT FOR HONG KONG THERE ARE CHALLENGING YEARS OF CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH LIE AHEAD, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT THE PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT. I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE. I HAVE CONFIDENCE, TOO, IN THE FULL COMMITMENT OF BOTH THE BRITISH AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. BOTH CLEARLY WISH TO DO THE IR UTMOST TO HELP MAINTAIN PROSPERITY AND STABILITY IN HONG KONG, AS FOR MYSELF, I AM DETERMINED TO SERVE HONG KONG AND ITS INTERESTS TO THE UTMOST OF MY ABILITY. AND NOW IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS I WILL DO MY BEST TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.

JOHN CHAN: THANK YOU SIR DAVID, FIRST QUESTION.

SETH FAISON HONGKONG STANDARD: SIR DAVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE

CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE PURGE OF INTELLECTUALS AND OF LIBERAL PARTY MEMBERS THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON IN CHINA AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS, IN FACT, WE JUST HEARD A REPORT THAT COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF HU YAO-BANG HAS RESIGNED. WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING CHINA FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'D LIKE TO KNOW YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION THERE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ASSURE THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG THAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHINA NOW, WON'T BE HAPPENING HERE AFTER ANOTHER TEN YEARS?

/SIR DAVIDI

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