XN000022-1993-12-09 — Page 6

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1993

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QUESTION: YOU KNOW, AGAIN MR QIAN HAS SAID THAT, TALKING ABOUT THE SINCERITY AND HE SAID THIS MORNING THAT THE BRITISH SIDE IS LACK OF SINCERITY, WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT?

CASE THAT WORDS MEAN THINK WHAT THE WORD EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE

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GOVERNOR: I THINK THAT IT IS SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENT THINGS TO CHINESE OFFICIALS. I "SINCERITY" MEANS TO SOME CHINESE OFFICALS IS WORLD MUST AGREE WITH US, OTHERWISE THEY ARE NOT BEING SINCERE. NOW THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE WAY OF DEFINING THE WORD "SINCERITY", IT'S WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE CALLED UNILATERAL INTERPRETATION. WE ARE TOTALLY SINCERE IN ATTEMPTING TO WORK FOR THE FULL IMPLENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. WE ARE WHOLELY SINCERE IN WANTING TO PRESERVE THE VALUES AND THE FREEDOMS, AND THE RULE OF LAW HERE IN HONG KONG. WE ARE SINCERE IN THOSE OBJECTIVES. THAT'S WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE PROPOSED TALKS ON POLITICAL ISSUES TO THE CHINESE, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE GONE THROUGH 17 ROUNDS OF THOSE TALKS WITHOUT ALAS VERY MUCH TO SHOW FOR IT. THAT'S WHY WE WERE PREPARED TO OFFER CONDITIONALLY CONSIDERABLE CONCESSIONS DURING THOSE TALKS. THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY GOOD WAY OF DEMONSTRATING SINCERITY. BUT OUR SINCERITY IS ABOVE ALL THE SINCERITY OF WANTING TO WORK IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SINCERELY WANTING TO STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE PRINCIPLES AND WE HAVE A BOTTOM LINE, AND WE DON'T TRANSLATE SINCERITY AS MEANING "DO WHATEVER CHINESE OFFICIALS TELL YOU TO DO". I DON'T THINK THAT IS A VERY SENSIBLE WAY OF INTERPRETING THE WORD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FS SPEAKS ON AIRPORT PROGRESS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING CONSIDERATION TO DECISIONS ON SOME KEY CONTRACTS AND FRANCHISES THAT ARE NEEDED ON THE AIRPORT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID.

"WE SHALL CERTAINLY HAVE TO DISCUSS THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH LEGCO, I GUESS, SOMETIME EARLY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID AFTER ATTENDING AN AMCHAM LUNCH TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE NOTED THAT PROGRESS ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS WAS GOING WELL, WITHIN BUDGET AND AT THE SPEED IT WANTED.

ON THE AIRPORT AND AIRPORT RAILWAY, HE SAID: "WE WILL NEED ΤΟ HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH LEGCO IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.'

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MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY WOULD REMAIN A DIALOGUE WITH CHINA ON THE FINANCING AND RELATED LAND ISSUES.

"WE INTEND TO CARRY ON WITH THAT SORT OF CHINESE, WHILE ALSO CONSULTING LEGCO," HE SAID.

DISCUSSION WITH THE

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