XN000022-1993-11-05 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1993

TRANSCRIPT OF GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE

GOVERNOR: GOOD EVENING. AS YOU KNOW, I AM GOING TO LONDON THIS EVENING FOR A WEEK IN THE UK. WHILE I AM THERE I WILL BE HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, THE HOME SECRETARY, MR GOOD LAD THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS. I WILL ALSO BE MEETING THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, JOHN SMITH, AND THE LEADER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, PADDY ASHDOWN.

HONG

I'M MAKING A NUMBER OF SPEECHES. I'M SPEAKING AT THE TDC ANNUAL DINNER IN LONDON, AND I'M SPEAKING AT THE IMPORTANT HONG KONG WORKS CONFERENCE WHICH WE HOPE WILL ATTRACT FURTHER INTEREST IN FURTHER INVESTMENT TO HONG KONG AND STRENGTHEN TRADE WITH IT IS AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT SO PROMINENT MEMBERS OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY WILL BE TAKING PART IN IT.

KONG,

KONG.

HONG

MANY

I'LL ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ENGAGEMENTS. I AM DELIVERING A LECTURE AT NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY, THOUGH THAT WON'T BE ABOUT HONG KONG, AND I WILL BE GIVING MY LAST PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT HONG KONG- RELATED ISSUES BEFORE I TRAVEL UP TO NEWCASTLE FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT. IN ADDITION, OF COURSE, I WILL BE MEETING A NUMBER OF OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HONG KONG, AND PARLIAMENTARIANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HONG KONG. AND I AM DELIGHTED TO SAY THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN BOTH CATEGORIES THESE DAYS.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MY VISIT TO LONDON WILL BE TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE WHICH OVERSEES POLICY ON HONG KONG. WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE AMBASSADOR, SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, WHO BAS BEEN LEADING OUR TEAM IN 15 ROUNDS OF TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH SIR ROBIN TO CONSIDER WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THOSE TALKS WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. WE DID THAT LAST WEEKEND. NOW SIR ROBIN AND I WILL BE ATTENDING A MEETING OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES. FIRST OF ALL, TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR IN 15 ROUNDS OF TALKS. SECONDLY, TO ASSESS THE PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESS. AND FINALLY, TO CONSIDER OUR STRATEGY FOR THE TIME THAT REMAINS AND THAT, Ι GUESS, WILL BE OUR KEY CONCERN TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN DO WHAT IS THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PATIENCE, BUT AS THEY KNOW AND WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE TO AGREE ON WHAT WE NEED ΤΟ DO IN THE TIME REMAINING.

IS

IN

THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS BUT I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE STILL A DIFFERENCE IN OUR RESPECTIVE PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES OPEN AND FAIR ELECTIONS. I HOPE THAT WE CAN BRING THOSE PERCEPTIONS RATHER CLOSELY TOGETHER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE, AS INDEPENDENT LEGAL EXPERTS SAID TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS WEEK, WE HAVE TO ACT WITHIN THE LETTER OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND WITHIN ITS SPIRIT AS WELL IN BRINGING FORWARD PROPOSALS. SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MY VISIT AND I HOPE IT IS A SUCCESSFUL ONE.

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