XN000022-1992-10-23 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1992

I NOTICE THAT..

то

BUILD

QUESTION: CHINA...WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM.

C

THE

AIRPORT.. WITHOUT

GOVERNOR:

THE MONEY WILL HAVE TO BE AGREED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WE WOULD DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN BUT I REPEAT, IT'S IN MY JUDGEMENT, A SECOND BEST OPTION, BUT I AM UNDER AN OBLIGATION TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG EXPECT OF ME AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO. BUT I WILL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES, I'M SURE, FOR EXPLORING OTHER OR ADDITIONAL WAYS FORWARD.

QUESTION:

GOVERNOR:

(INAUDIBLE)

AS

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY WOULD BE THAT FOOLISH TO REGARD THAT SENSIBLE POLICY. IT'S CONCEIVABLY THE SORT OF THING WHICH SOME JOURNALISTS WRITE, BUT I DON'T HONESTLY THINK THAT IT IS A POLICY THAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM SENSIBLE, GROWN UP PEOPLE.

QUESTION;

CHINESE SIDE.

C + • •

(INAUDIBLE)

GOVERNOR:

I THINK WE BOTH AGREE THAT IT'S SENSIBLE TO GO ON TALKING AND I REPEAT WHAT I'VE SAID ALREADY, THAT IT WILL BE EASIER TO GO ON TALKING AND, IF RATHER THAN JUST FACING CRITICISM WE CAN SEE SOME ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS.

QUESTION:

(INAUDIBLE)

GOVERNOR :

I SAID EARLIER THAT I BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING THAT WORKS, AND WORKS WELL FOR HONG KONG, WILL SURVIVE THROUGH 1997 AND BEYOND; AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT THE GOVERNING INSTITUTION OF HONG KONG WORKING WELL WILL SURVIVE BEYOND 1997. I DON'T RECALL EXCEPT YOUR PREMISE BECAUSE IT WILL BE DISCOURTEOUS OF ME TO DO SO.

QUESTION:

AFTER YOUR VISIT.... DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON....... (INAUDIBLE).

GOVERNOR:

IT'S NOT ON MY AGENDA. IT WAS SUGGESTED BY, I THINK A MEMBER OF THE CRC IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN I FIRST ANSWERED QUESTIONS THERE. THE CRC AND OTHERS MAY CONTINUE TO PRESS ME TO HOLD A REFERENDUM, BUT MY PRESENT INTENTIONS ARE, IN DUE COURSE, TO PUT LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I'VE HEARD QUITE A LOT OF ARGUMENT EXPRESSED AGAINST THE IDEA OF HOLDING A REFERENDUM AND, BY AND LARGE, I THINK IT'S FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO MAKE UP ITS MIND WHEN LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS COME BEFORE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

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