XN000022-1994-04-27 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1994

QUESTION: SIR, DO YOU THINK DIRECTOR LU PING'S REFUSAL TO MEET YOU IS SHOWING THAT THE CHINESE SIDE IS UNWILLING TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE BRITISH AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS?

GOVERNOR: 1 THINK YOU'D BETTER ASK THEM THAT. I AM PRETTY CERTAIN THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD LIKE DIRECTOR LU PING AND ME AS GOVERNOR AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES WHICH'RE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. ON THIS OCCASION, DIRECTOR LU PING SAYS IT'S, ALAS, NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SCHEDULE A MEETING. I HOPE THAT ON FUTURE OCCASIONS, IT WILL BE. I AM SURE ON FUTURE OCCASIONS, IT WILL BE. BUT, ON THIS OCCASION, I AM AFRAID PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.

QUESTION: MR PATTEN, ON THE NEW TERRITORIES, DO YOU THINK THE RECENT DISCONTENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS ARE RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE BY THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NEW TERRITORIES POLICIES?

GOVERNOR: NO.

QUESTION: WHY NOT?

GOVERNOR: THEY ARE PLAINLY NOTHING TO DO WITH NEGLIGENCE. IN SOME CASES, THEY RESULT, I AM AFRAID, IN PEOPLE BEING GIVEN THE WRONG INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS WHICH ARE BEING DISCUSSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG: DO WE ACTUALLY WANT OUR WATER WAYS TO BE POLLUTED? DO WE ACTUALLY WANT OUR GREEN SPACES TO BE COVERED WITH CONTAINERS AND OLD CARS? DO WE ACTUALLY THINK THAT MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY IN HONG KONG, EVEN WHILE TACKLING ALL THOSE ISSUES, WE RESPECT THE TRADITIONAL POSITIONS AND THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS OF VILLAGERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. I THINK THAT SENSIBLY, WE HAVE ΤΟ STRIKE A BALANCE IN THE INTEREST OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. WE WILL BEST PROCEED ON THE BASIS OF DISCUSSION AND CO- OPERATION, NOT CONFRONTATION. THAT IS TRUE ABOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES JUST AS IT IS TRUE ABOUT OTHER THINGS AS WELL. LAST QUESTION.

QUESTION: SIR, CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE LEGCO CONCERNING THE WASTE DISPOSAL AMENDMENT

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GOVERNOR: YOU HAD TWO. WHILE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE LEGO, I HOPE, PEACEFULLY, I HAVE BEEN VISITING FACTORIES. ONE OTHER QUESTION.

QUESTION: ISN'T IT IN BREACH OF THE MOU THAT DIRECTOR LU PING

MERT ?

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GOVERNOR: THAT'S A QUESTION FOR HIM AND I AM SURE YOU HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK IN BETWEEN HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO ASK.

QUESTION: GOVERNOR, IF YOU COULD MEET WITH LU PING, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM ABOUT THE SOARING PROPERTY PRICES?

/GOVERNOR: