XN000022-1994-06-23 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1994

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TRANSCRIPT OF GOVERNOR'S MEDIA SESSION

THE

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEDIA SESSION BY GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AFTER OPENING THE PAMELA YOUDE NETHERSOLE EASTERN HOSPITAL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON:

GOVERNOR

I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO OFFICIATE THE OPENING OF THIS SPLENDID HOSPITAL, WITH LADY YOUDE. I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG REMEMBERS LADY YOUDE WITH GREAT AFFECTION. I AM DELIGHTED THAT THIS SPLENDID NEW ADDITION TO HEALTH CARE IN HONG KONG IS GOING TO CARRY HER NAME. IT REALLY IS AN EXCELLENT HOSPITAL. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DIFFICULT MANAGEMENT JOB IN THE HEALTH SERVICE NOW. A HOSPITAL AS LARGE AS THIS, WITH AS MANY RESOURCES AND AS MANY MEN AND WOMEN WORKING IN IT, NEEDS A GREAT DEAL OF MANAGING. BUT THE TEAM HERE IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE AND I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PROVIDING BETTER HEALTH CARE FOR THIS PART OF HONG KONG.

QUESTION

SINCE THE CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK HAS FILED A WRIT ΤΟ THE SUPREME COURT, DO YOU THINK YOU WILL SIGN THE BILL, THE NEW TERRITORIES LAND (EXEMPTION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE LEGCO YESTERDAY ?

GOVERNOR : YES.

QUESTION : YOU WON'T DEFER YOUR APPROVAL, THE SIGNATURE TO THE BILL ?

GOVERNOR : I OBVIOUSLY WANT TO CONSULT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FIRST AND I'LL TAKE LEGAL ADVICE. BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY OUR INTENTION TO SEE THE LEGISLATIVE WISHES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PASS ONTO THE STATUTORY BOOK.

QUESTION : SINCE THE JLG HAS GIVEN MORE TIME FOR THE DEFENCE EXPERTS TO CONTINUE THEIR DISCUSSION, DOES IT INDICATE THAT THEY ARE DELEGATED SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT COMING UP ON MONDAY ?

GOVERNOR

FOR

WE'VE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE DEFENCE ESTATE ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. THAT IS AN INDICATION OF HOW DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX THE ISSUES ARE. I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE BREN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO TRY TO PUT AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN WORKING IMAGINATIVELY AND I THINK WITH A GREAT DEAL OF SINCERITY BECAUSE A GOOD SETTLEMENT 1S GREATLY IN THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, AND THE USE OF SURPLUS LAND HERE IN HONG KONG. IT IS COMPLICATED. IT IS DIFFICULT. THE EXPERTS NEEDED A BIT MORE TIME TO TRY TO PUT THE FINAL PIECES IN PLACE. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO SO AND VERY MUCH HOPE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET AN AGREEMENT ON MONDAY. I THINK THAT'S GENUINELY WHAT BOTH SIDES WANT TO SEE. NO QUESTION ABOUT BOTH SIDES BEING COMMITTED TO AN AGREEMENT. BUT I REPEAT IT IS COMPLICATED AND WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE YET. BUT I HOPE WE WILL BE THERE ON MONDAY AND WHEN WE DO GET THERE, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE A GREAT DEAL ΤΟ BE GRATEFUL FOR TO THE NEGOTIATORS ON BOTH SIDES WHO'VE BEEN DOING SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB.

/QUESTION: