FS (Designate): Governor, thank you very much for your kind word. I am very deeply honoured by the appointment. I know that honour comes with considerable and formidable responsibility and challenge. The challenge is ability to contribute to a smooth transition to Chinese sovereignty and to be able to serve the people of Hong Kong after that. It is indeed my great honour to serve this community of mine. Sir Hamish, as you know, is my good friend. For the past two decades, he has been my best tutor in the service. He's, in my eye, a civil servant of the highest ability and integrity. He's indeed an almost impossible act to follow. But I shall do my best. Thank you very much.
Governor: I think I am right in saying that you're giving a press conference this afternoon, Donald. There will be conceivably some speculation about what this means. What I want to assure you it doesn't mean is that from now on I will be wearing a bow tie. That is not going to happen. Just for the record, I wrote to Director Lu Ping about these appointments yesterday. Thank you very much.
Question: The appointment of a new Chinese, the first Chinese Financial Secretary can help to discuss with the Chinese over the budgetary concession list ...
Governor: I am sure that the arrangements we've suggested to Chinese officials would lead to constructive negotiations and discussions whoever was carrying them out. But I am also sure that Chinese officials will have as much respect for Donald Tsang as I am sure they have for Sir Hamish Macleod. If ever there was a justification for the remark that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, it's the state of the Hong Kong economy which is a tribute not only to the exceptionally hard work of the people of Hong Kong, not only to the gifted entrepreneurism of the people of Hong Kong, but also a tribute to the successful, skilful and prudent management of Hong Kong's finances by a succession of Financial Secretaries, most recently and brilliantly Sir Hamish Macleod. And that is a tradition which would be carried on by Donald Tsang who I know will do the job exceptionally well. Thank you very much indeed.
Question: Governor, do you think that Mr Donald Tsang's visit to Beijing can help to solve the problem about the making of the budget of 96/97 to 98?
Governor: I don't think there should be a problem about that at all. We've demonstrated our determination to secure the economic prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and I hope that Chinese officials will join us in that enterprise. The proposals I put forward in my Legco speech, proposals we discussed with Chinese officials last November or put to Chinese officials last November and discussed with them in December, those proposals are eminently sensible. I think that they're widely regarded as sensible by the community, and I am sure they'll lead to good discussions and dialogue. Everybody will know that in Donald Tsang, we have a man with an extremely good mind, a tough, honest and honourable negotiator, who always do his best for the people of Hong Kong.
End/Tuesday, March 7, 1995
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