XN000022-1991-07-04 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1991

HUGO GURDON (DAILY TELEGRAPH): DOES IT SATISFY THAT PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGNTY?

THE GOVERNOR: I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT FROM THE POINT OF I MEAN IT SOMETIMES DOES. PEOPLE VIEW OF SOVEREIGNTY ON EITHER SIDE. TOOK A LONG TIME TO INVENT THE WHEEL I THINK, BUT IT DOES SOMETIMES TAKE AN AWFUL LONG TIME TO GET TO THE RIGHT SORT OF CONCLUSION.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO FANNY WONG (SCMP): TWO QUESTIONS PLEASE. DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO CLAUSES (C) AND (D) IN THE MEMORANDUM.

BASICALLY IT JUST SAYS THAT ALMOST ALL THE KEY ASPECTS OF THE PADS PROJECT, THE GRANTING OF CONTRACTS, AND THE FRANCHISES AND THE YOU HAVE TO CONSULT THE CHINESE BEFORE IT CAN GOVERNMENT BORROWINGS; GO AHEAD UNDER THE AIRPORT, SO-CALLED AIRPORT COMMITTEE UNDER THE JLG AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THE OPERATION OF JLG IS THAT THE CHINESE SIDE AND SO NO WONDER CHINA APPROVAL IS NEEDED BEFORE ANY ISSUE IS ACCEPTED.

IS IT TRUE TO SAY THAT, IN WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON THIS PROJECT. THAT CASE, THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AS PROMISED IN THE JOINT ALSO A SECOND QUESTION DECLARATION IS NOTHING BUT AN EMPTY PROMISE? THAT TIME AND AGAIN YOU AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE STRESSED THE NEED OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LINE OF AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG IS NO REFERENCE TO THIS GOVERNMENT. IN THIS MEMORANDUM THERE MAINTENANCE OF THE LINE OF AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. DON'T YOU THINK THAT, GIVEN THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF HONG KONG HAS ACCEPTED SUCH A BAD DEAL FOR HONG KONG, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THE TOP LEADERS IN THIS GOVERNMENT TOGETHER WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD RESIGN?

THE GOVERNOR: OH, DEAR, I DON'T THINK I ACCEPT THE PREMISES OF LET ME TRY TO PICK UP SOME POINTS. ANY PARTS OF THAT QUESTION AT ALL.

LOUISE TAM (COMMERCIAL RADIO): WHAT WAS THE QUESTION SIR DAVID? IT WAS A VERY VERY THE GOVERNOR: YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

LONG QUESTION.

LOUISE TAM (COMMERCIAL RADIO]: IT WAS LIKE A STATEMENT.

I COULDN'T HEAR IT. A QUESTION OR A STATEMENT?

WAS IT

/THE GOVERNOR