XN000022-1994-05-20 — Page 7

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1994

QUESTION: IN

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YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW MUCH OF YOUR POLITICAL PROPOSALS WILL BE PASSED BY LEGCO?

GOVERNOR: HOW MUCH OF MINE? HOW MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT'S? HOW MUCH OF THE PROPOSALS BACKED BY THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG? HOW MUCH OF THE PROPOSALS ENDORSED BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTED THE MAJORITY OPINION AT WESTMINSTER? I HOPE A LOT.

QUESTION: GOVERNOR, JUST ONE MORE QUESTION, HAS EXCO KNOW,

BY

DISCUSSED, YOU

THE ISSUE OF SETTING UP A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN HONG KONG BEFORE YOU GO TO LONDON?

GOVERNOR: EXCO HAS HAD A BROAD BUT NOT A DETAILED DISCUSSION ABOUT NOT ONLY THAT ISSUE BUT SOME RELATED ISSUES. BUT, EXCO WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE DEBATING THAT ISSUE AT SOME LENGTH AND IN GREAT DETAIL DURING THE COURSE OF JUNE.

FOR ANY

QUESTION: THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EUROPEANS LIVING IN HONG KONG BUSINESS PURPOSES, FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES ALSO. COULD YOU GIVE THEM GUARANTEE THAT AFTER 1997, THEIR LIVELIHOOD HERE IS GOING TO BE SECURED?

GOVERNOR: BRITAIN AND CHINA AGREED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY BETWEEN THEM THAT HONG KONG'S WAY OF LIFE SHOULD STAY THE SAME FOR FIFTY YEARS AFTER 1997. THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO AND THAT WAY OF LIFE IS SPELLED OUT IN GREAT DETAIL IN THE TREATY WHICH IS LODGED AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

QUESTION: WHICH POWER ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO SECURE THAT THESE COMMITMENTS ARE GOING TO BE HONOURED IN BEIJING?

GOVERNOR: IT'S A TREATY WHICH IS TABLED. AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND I AM SURE THAT CHINA IS TOTALLY COMMITTED TO IT, NOT LEAST BECAUSE IT'S GREATLY IN CHINA'S INTEREST THAT HONG KONG SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE THRIVING, SUCCESSFUL PLACE AS IT IS TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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PROGRESS MADE AT AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON SAID THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE MORNING WAS USEFUL AND HAD MADE SOME PROGRESS.

METAPHOR, WE

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING A LUNCH WITH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MEMBERS, MR PATTEN SAID: "I THINK, TO BORROW A HAVE LIFTED OFF BUT WE HAVEN'T YET MADE A LANDING.

"BUT, 1 THINK IT TOOK MATTERS FORWARD AND 1 VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT WILL BRING THE END OF THIS SAGA A GOOD DEAL CLOSER.

OF

"I KNOW BOTH SIDES HAD AND TOOK A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE IN THIS MORNING'S TALKS. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY AS THE AMBASSADORS BOTH SAID THAT WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS,"

/IN RESPONSE