XN000022-1994-04-21 — Page 8

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1994

GOVERNOR:

7

I REPEAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THERE IS NO INTERCEPTION OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. THERE IS OF COURSE INTERCEPTION IN TWO AREAS, ONE IS IN THE AREA OF CORRUPTION WHERE INTERCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT, THE OTHER IS IN THE AREA OF CRIME AND SECURITY WHERE IT IS ALSO THE CASE THAT INTERCEPTIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE LAW. BUT I REPEAT THAT RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD, ANY INTERCEPTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE LAW AND NONE

IS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. THIS

AN

OF OPEN SOCIETY, THIS IS A PLURAL SOCIETY, PEOPLE HAVE A WIDE SPREAD OPINIONS - PERHAPS ON SOME ISSUES WIDER THAN ELSEWHERE ON OTHER ISSUES LESS WIDE THAN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES - AND SO LONG AS I AM RESPONSIBLE IT WILL REMAIN.

-

―

THIS FOR THE

TO,

WITHOUT WHEN

то IS A DIFFICULTY WHEN ONE IS RESPONDING THERE ENDLESS FLOOD

IMPOSSIBLE OF UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS. IT IS EXECUTIVE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLY TO REPLY TO, RESPOND EACH ALLEGATION TO EACH ALLEGATION CONCERNING INDIVIDUALS PUTTING ITSELF IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION. SO WE DO HAVE TO SAY, SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME, "NO COMMENT" AND THOSE RESPONSES OF "NO COMMENT" AREN'T "NO COMMENT" MEANING "YES", THEY ARE "NO COMMENT" MEANING "NO COMMENT", AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT'S GOT TO BE. THAT'S WHY I HAVE TO SAY THAT ALLEGATIONS MADE WITH IMMUNITY POSITION CAN LEAD TO, I THINK, AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DELICATE

THAT WHICH IS GROTESQUELY UNFAIR TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND I AM SURE IS SOMETHING WHICH THIS COUNCIL WILL WANT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF.

+

·

FOR THIS THAT

THE

AND

YOU

MS EMILY LAU: A FOLLOW UP. WILL THE GOVERNOR CONFIRM COUNCIL THAT ALL THE TELEPHONE BUGGING' AND WIRE-TAPPING AUTHORITIES CONCERNED

APPROVAL CONDUCT, IS DONE WITH YOUR KNOWING ABOUT IT?

MAJOR NOT IS ΤΟ

GOVERNOR:

YES.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. I AS GOVERNOR, LIKE MY PREDECESSORS, THIS COUNCIL HAVE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY TO AUTHORISE ANY INTERCEPTION.

WITH WILL KNOW

FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WHEN ONE IS DEALING, INTERNATIONAL CRIME OR BIG CORRUPTION CASES, THESE TECHNIQUES ARE JUST DESIRABLE, ARE NOT JUST NECESSARY, BUT ESSENTIAL IF ONE MAKE ANY PROGRESS. BUT NOTHING IS DONE UNLESS I FINALLY AUTHORISE IT. IF SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE URGENTLY IN THE CASE OF WITH COMMISSIONER OF THE ICAC HAS REGULAR MEETINGS OFFICER WHO IS ABLE TO AUTHORISE, BUT HE IS ONLY ABLE UNTIL I

PUT MY STAMP ON THINGS MYSELF SWIFTLY.

SENSITIVE WOULD BE DONE,

ACTUALLY

AND NOTHING

THE ICAC, THE THE DESIGNATED то AUTHORISE DO VERY ABSOLUTELY

I WHICH

AM I

IS

CONVINCED, WITHOUT MY SAY SO. BUT EVENTUALLY, EVERY DECISION COMES TO ME, EVERY DECISION IS AUTHORISED BY ME, EVERY SINGLE DECISION THAT MADE.

YOU

MR

PRESIDENT.

GIVEN THE LEGAL AND

GIVEN

MISS ANNA WU:

THANK

GOVERNOR, RECOMMENDATION IN THE FAC REPORT THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, DESIRABLE TO SET UP A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN HONG KONG, AND THE ADDED UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, WHAT WILL IT TAKE YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT TO SET UP A COMMISSION IN HONG KONG OR TO WHAT ALLOW THAT MATTER TO BE DETERMINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL? IS TROUBLING YOU ON THIS PROPOSAL TO SET UP A COMMISSION IN HONG KONG?

/GOVERNOR: