XN000022-1995-05-10 — Page 3

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Governor: Well, we would very much hope that she could meet with Lu Ping during his visit to Hong Kong next week. Back in February, I said to Director Lu Ping that next time he was in Hong Kong we hope that he would be able to arrange a visit with me. I think it's a matter of surprise to people in Hong Kong given that all around the world people talk about a variety of issues that he doesn't seem able to do that. Any way, we wrote again last month to Director Lu Ping, saying that I thought that there was an obligation on us to meet. There is an obligation under the Airport MOU. And that there was a moral obligation as well, which I think is strongly felt by the people of Hong Kong. Wouldn't happen with anywhere else in the world, let's face it. But I said that if he wasn't going to see me it would in my view be important for Hong Kong that he found time to meet the Chief Secretary and to talk with some of her senior officials. The Director is here for seven-and-a-half days and I hope that he'll still be able to find the time to see Anson Chan. He is seeing a lot of other people. I don't think there are many people in Hong Kong who are playing such a vital role in securing stability and prosperity as Mrs Chan. When Mrs Chan visits other countries, she's seen by Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Central Bank Governors, Finance Ministers, the leaders of every community. They are all people who have busy diaries but they all manage to find time to see Anson Chan. And they know that she is a tremendous champion for Hong Kong and I think that it would do a huge amount for Hong Kong's morale and confidence if Director Lu or those who organise his programme were able to find during the course of seven-and-a-half days, over 20 meals, a time when he could talk to one of the most distinguished women in public service in Asia, as well as the woman who is the Chief Secretary of the administration of Hong Kong.

Question: Mr Patten, as you know every Hong Kong citizen would like Lu Ping to meet you and Mrs Anson Chan, but the most updated official sources said that Lu Ping is not going to meet either you or Mrs Anson Chan. What do you think will be the repercussions of this to the public?

Governor: Well, I think that's..

Question: Is that true, first?

Governor: I want to do everything I can to make it easier rather than more difficult for Director Lu and those who advise him or those with whom he discusses these matters to come to a decision which would be in Hong Kong's interest. But you must ask the Director these questions. I still hope, and I hope passionately that even if he doesn't see me, he will meet Mrs Chan and some of her senior colleagues. He's going to be here in Hong Kong. He wants apparently to give reassurance about the future. What better reassurance than starting a dialogue. Nobody for one moment supposes that we'll always manage to agree. All around the world there are people coping with far bigger problems than we have in Hong Kong who sit down at the table and talk to one another. We've put our hand out to Director Lu and his colleagues and I think that most people in Hong Kong who were courteous, and civil, and kind and friendly in their behaviour would expect that gesture to be reciprocated.