XN000022-1994-04-13 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1994

PROVIDED

GOVERNOR: NO, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS EARLIER WAS QUITE SIMPLY WRONG. THE REASONS FOR THAT, I AM SURE ARE BEING EXPLORED EVEN IF WE SPEAK AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IN GOVERNMENT IS THAT WHEN IT LOOKS AS THOUGH INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED IS INCORRECT, THEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE YOU REVIEW THE SITUATION AND YOU MAKE ABSOLUTELY PLAIN THAT ALL THE FACTS ARE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS AN OPEN SOCIETY WITH A FREE PRESS THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE STANDING UP FOR AND MUST CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR IN HONG KONG. AND IF OCCASIONALLY, AS A RESULT OF THAT, GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO ADMIT THEY MADE MISTAKES, THEN SO BE IT.

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TOWARDS

QUESTION: THE FAC REPORT SAYS THAT IT SUPPORTS YOUR APPROACH THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG. IT ALSO SAYS THAT IT COULD NOT PREVENT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FROM CHANGING THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AFTER 1997, SO DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR POLITICAL REFORM WILL STILL GO BEYOND 1997 ?

SHOULD

GOVERNOR: AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANYONE CHANGE THE PROPOSALS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE AFTER 1997. THAT IS NOT TO DENY CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY AFTER 1997, NOR TO DENY THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS COULD DO THINGS AFTER 1997, WHICH WOULD NOT, IN MY JUDGEMENT OR THE COMMUNITY'S JUDGEMENT, BE IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. BUT I REPEAT IN OUR VIEW THERE IS NO REASON WHY CHINESE OFFICIALS SHOULD MAKE THOSE CHANGES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

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SOLID SUPPORT FOR HK APPROACH: GOVERNOR

IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT SUPPORT FOR THE APPROACH TAKEN Bi THE GOVERNMENT ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IS AS SOLID IN BRITAIN AS IT IS IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING ΤΟ THE MEDIA AFTER VISITING SHA TIN DISTRICT, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE REPORT BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE GAVE SOLID AND COMPLETE SUPPORT FOR THE APPROACH THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN HONG KONG ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REPORT WAS THE RESULT OF A THOROUGH REVIEW BY A CROSS PARTY COMMITTEE OF EXPERT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO HAD TAKEN EVIDENCE FROM PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, CHINESE AND BRITISH OFFICIALS, LAWYERS AND MANY EXPERTS.

"THEIR REPORT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A VERY USEFUL DOCUMENT FOR ALL OF US TO STUDY," HE SAID.

"IT HAS A NUMBER OF OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE WILL WANT TO STUDY VERY CAREFULLY AND I'M SURE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL WANT TO CONSIDER THEM AS WELL."

/ON PRESS