XN000022-1994-05-05 — Page 4

- 3

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1994

GOVERNOR: I READ THE LEADING ARTICLE IN ONE OF OUR LEADING NEWSPAPERS THIS MORNING ON THIS SUBJECT AND WHILE I AM SURE THE REMARKS MAY HAVE BEEN WELL-INTENTIONED, I THINK THEY HAVE CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN AND CONFUSION AS ONE OF OUR NEWSPAPERS POINTED OUT VERY VIGOROUSLY THIS MORNING. THE LAND FUND WILL BE WORTH ABOUT $100 BILLION BY 1997. THAT'S THE PRESENT ESTIMATE AND,

OF COURSE, THE FIGURE MAY BE HIGHER. NOW, THAT LAND FUND SHOULD BE TREATED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE TRUST DEED THAT WAS SET UP IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THE TRUST DEED MADE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR AND I WANT TO UNDERLINE THIS POINT THAT THE MONEY IN THE LAND FUND IS MONEY THAT BELONGS ΤΟ THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER 1997, AFTER JULY 1, THE SAR GOVERNMENT BECOMES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MONEY IN THE LAND FUND SO THERE IS THIS CONFUSION WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLY WORRYING PEOPLE. WE DO HAVE THE GREAT ADVANTAGE THIS WEEK OF HAVING DIRECTOR LU IN HONG KONG AND I AM SURE THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAR UP ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THAT MAY HAVE ARISEN BECAUSE OF THE REMARKS YESTERDAY ON THE LAND FUND. I THINK THAT WOULD BE WELCOME ALL ROUND. I DON'T THINK IT'S A POINT THAT WE WANT TO TURN INTO A GREAT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE BUT WE DO, I THINK, WANT TO HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION OF WHAT EXACTLY IT'S MEANT BECAUSE I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE TERMS OF THE TRUST DEED BUT THEY DO, I THINK, OWE IT TO HONG KONG ΤΟ MAKE THAT CLEAR.

QUESTION: GOVERNOR PATTEN, WILL YOU INTERVENE IN THE HONG KONG STADIUM NOISE DISPUTE TO ENABLE THE ROLLING STONES TO PLAY IN HONG KONG?

GOVERNOR: THE FIRST DANCE I EVER TOOK MY WIFE TO AND I WON'T TELL YOU HOW MANY YEARS AGO IT WAS, BUT THE BAND THAT WAS PLAYING WAS THE ROLLING STONES. SO, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN POSITION IN MY AFFECTIONS. BUT, EVEN DESPITE THAT, I WOULDN'T DREAM OF TRYING TO INTERVENE IN WHAT'RE PROPERLY THE AFFAIRS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. SO, OLD-TIMERS LIKE ME AND EVEN CONCEIVABLY YOU, WILL HAVE TO HOPE THAT PROBLEMS REGARDING THE STADIUM ARE IRONED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WAS IN WAN CHAI YESTERDAY VISITING THE DISTRICT BOARD AND WAS SPEAKING TO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE VICINITY OF THE STADIUM AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR WORRIES ABOUT THE LEVEL OF NOISE. 1 HOPE THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE STADIUM MANAGEMENT CAN TACKLE THE PROBLEM. BUT, FOR THE TIME BEING, 1 UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLANNED POP CONCERTS WHETHER ROLLING STONES OR ANYONE ELSE. AND SO, TO BORROW A PHRASE, I AM AFRAID THAT IS AN ISSUE ON WHICH I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY SATISFACTION.

QUESTION:

•

THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG TEENAGER IN SINGAPORE. NOW IS THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO INTERVENE. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVITATION. BY HOLDING BACK, ARE YOU A KIND OF LIKE CONDOLING THE SENTENCE THAT'S PASSED DOWN TO FU CHJ-HO?

/GOVERNOR: