XN000022-1993-10-04 — Page 2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1993

THE

GOVT WILL DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM: GOVERNOR

*

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY (MONDAY) SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND HE HIMSELF WOULD DEFEND THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS "UP HILL AND DOWN DALE".

"WE ARE TAKING WHAT PRACTICAL STEPS WE CAN TO HELP SHORE IT UP, MR PATTEN SAID.

BUT ULTIMATELY, HE ADDED, THE DAY-TO-DAY CUSTODIANS OF PRESS FREEDOM ARE THE PRACTITIONERS THEMSELVES THE REPORTERS, THE NEWS THE EDITORS, THE PROPRIETORS WHO WORK FOR AND OWN THE HONG

EDITORS, KONG PRESS.

—

"WE IN GOVERNMENT CAN AND WILL DO OUR BIT. BUT WE RELY ON YOU TO DO YOURS."

THE GOVERNOR WAS SPEAKING AT THE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM

CONFERENCE.

HE SAID ALL THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG NEEDED A FREE PRESS NOW MORE THAN EVER AS THE TERRITORY WAS PASSING THROUGH A UNIQUE PERIOD IN ITS HISTORY, A UNIQUE PERIOD IN WORLD HISTORY.

"THERE ARE BOUND TO BE DIFFICULTIES IN THE RUN-UP TO THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY.

—

SPECIAL

**THEY WILL MEAN INDEED THEY ARE MEANING ALREADY CHALLENGES AND SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE HONG KONG PRESS."

PATTEN SAID THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD A RIGHT ΤΟ EXPECT

MR THE PRESS TO:

SAID.

* GIVE THEM THE NEWS, TRUE AND STRAIGHT, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR ;

* INVESTIGATE, ANALYSE AND EXPLAIN;

* KEEP NEWS TO THE NEWS PAGES, EDITORIALS TO THE EDITORIAL

PAGES; AND

ASK THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AND INSIST ON THE ANSWERS, FROM BOTH PARTIES TO AN ARGUMENT,

"IT WON'T ALWAYS BE EASY. IT WON'T ALWAYS BE COMFORTABLE,

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HE

BUT MR PATTEN WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD LIVE UP TO THESE CHALLENGES IN THE YEARS AHEAD BY DISPLAYING THE RELENTLESS SPIRIT OF ENQUIRY, THE DEDICATION, THE COURAGE, THE COMMITMENT ΤΟ THEIR PROFESSION AND THEIR PUBLIC FOR WHICH THEY WERE KNOWN.

"'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'. FOR OUR SYSTEM IN HONG KONG ΤΟ SURVIVE AND PROSPER, PROPRIETORS, EDITORS AND JOURNALISTS WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY, TOO, BELIEVE PASSIONATELY IN THE VALUES OF AN

OPEN SOCIETY.

"I AM SURE THEY WILL NOT BETRAY THAT TRUST, HE SAID.

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12.