XN000022-1992-03-23 — Page 13

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MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1992

GOVERNOR:

THANK YOU. I WOULD PREFER NOT TO DEAL WITH THINGS IN TERMS OF PERSONALITIES, IF YOU DON'T MIND, PARTICULARLY WHEN AT LEAST ONE OF THEM MUST BE A MEMBER OF THIS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB. I JUST MAKE THE GENERAL POINT THAT IN LOOKING FOR PEOPLE FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ONE HAS TO LOOK ALSO AT THE WAY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RUNS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO LAST OCTOBER-NOVEMBER AND HOW CAN I PUT IT? IT'S NOT QUITE THE RULES BUT THE CUSTOMS UNDER WHICH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OPERATES. THAT

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IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS DISCUSSED THERE IS CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNCIL AGREE THAT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DISCUSSED THEY WILL COLLECTIVELY BACK. AND THOSE RULES OR THOSE TRADITIONS ARE AT THE MOMENT DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ONE DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WILL GO ON BEING THE CASE AND WE MUST ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH WE EVOLVE AND DEVELOP OUR SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT RUNS THE BEST IT CAN. THE BROADER ONE, GROOMING PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE, I DON'T THINK THERE 19 JOINT GROOMING GOING ON AT ALL. WHAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE, AND THIS PROBABLY COMES NEARER 1997, THAT THERE IS AS MUCH CONTINUITY THROUGH 1997 AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT APPLIES PARTICULARLY TO THE CIVIL SERVICE. I THINK THAT ON THE CHINESE SIDE THEY ARE ALSO CONSCIOUS OF THAT FACT. WE HAVE, IF I COULD SAY IT, ONE OR TWO CIVIL SERVANTS AROUND WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CIVIL SERVICE. THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH HONG KONG, THEY KNOW THE PLACE, THEY KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM OPERATES. WE MUST TRY ΤΟ MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE CONTINUITY IN THE JOBS THAT THEY'LL GET INTO BEFORE 1997 THAT WILL MATTER FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. BUT THE PROCESS OF SELECTING LEADERS WILL BE A DIFFERENT ONE. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT IS LAID DOWN IN THE ANNEXES, ISN'T TO THE BASIC LAW, SO IT IS NOT REALLY A QUESTION OF JOINT GROOMING. AND PERSONALLY, AND THIS IS JUST A PERSONAL VIEW, I FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE TO IDENTIFY WHO THOSE TOP LEADERS OF THE HONG KONG SAR WILL BE. I SEE A GREAT DEAL OF SPECULATION AROUND THE PLACE. I DON'T THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO SPECULATE ACCURATELY ON WHO ACTUALLY WILL SHOW UP AS BEING THE RIGHT SORT OF LEADERS AS LONG BEFORE 1997 AS ARE NOW.

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IT,

WE

QUESTION:

LORD WILSON, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS EXPRESSING INCREASING INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUL- GENERAL GAVE A SPEECH ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING A SPECIAL ACT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE. HOW DO YOU PERCEIVE THIS INCREASING INTEREST? DO YOU VIEW THIS AS MEDDLING OR DO YOU VIEW THIS AS SUPPORTIVE ACTION FROM A LONG-TIME ALLY?

/GOVERNOR: