XN000022-1993-05-08 — Page 12

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1993

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concerned about human rights, it would be very surprising. The joint declaration is a--an eloquent statement of the human rights of people in Hong Kong which we wish to see safeguarded after 1997, and I've said again and again that it is my prime task, the most important job I have to lay the foundations so that the joint declaration is fully implemented after 1997 as well as before 1997.

People in Hong Kong are concerned about human rights. But I don't believe that restrictions on trade are the best way of securing human rights objectives.

I happen to think that trade and economic growth are more likely to promote people's quality of life and their human rights than restrictions on trade or the depression of economic growth.

I think that trade increases the influence of one trading partner with others and I think it increases understanding and as I've said this week I think that trade casts light into dark corners so my argument is that you don't best go about pursuing human rights objectives by using trade as a weapon, and I promise I won't make that speech again this week.

to [

QUESTION:

The--one of the things that [ ? } is that you need to stand up ? ] sometimes on human rights. Do you not also need to stand up to people sometimes on trade? Talking about--if you say this is a--

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

Sure--

QUESTION:

--You know--also say this is [ ? ] trade.

GOVERNOR PATTEN:

-

You do need to stand up to people sometimes on trade issues. If you have in a bilateral relationship particular concerns that the other party to that relationship isn't behaving according to international agreement, isn't actually giving you the parity of opportunity which you're providing then you're perfectly entitled to take specific trade measures we've seen the United States doing that in a number of its

to cope with that, and trading relationships around the world.

That is using trade in a trade dispute or trade argument, it's not using trade in a discussion of politics.

Somebody who hasn't ans--asked one.

QUESTION:

I've a couple of questions about the Hong Kong issue. What is your response to the latest warning from the new Chinese agency [?] official [ ? 1 against [ ? question is, on the [

? commission

??) and the second meeting Friday is the

/QUESTION