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Chief Secretary's statement on China visit

Following is a speech by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) on her recent visit to China:

Mr President,

With your permission, I would like to make a statement on my recent visit to Peking.

The Governor and I have indicated on many previous occasions in the past our wish to discuss with Director Lu Ping issues relating to the transition of Hong Kong. Indeed, during his Question and Answer session on 27 April, the Governor informed this Council that he had extended an invitation to Director Lu to meet either him or, if that was not possible, the Chief Secretary during his visit to Hong Kong in May. Following that, 1 received an invitation from Director Lu to meet him over lunch in Zhuhai on 28 May. Unfortunately I was unable to accept the invitation because I was already committed to visit London. As Members are aware, I then made it clear in a public response that I welcomed the Director's invitation to meet him in China and that I had written to Director Lu stating that I looked forward to doing so when I returned from leave in July. These are all matters of public record.

It was whilst I was on leave last month that I received an invitation from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office to visit Peking from 30 June to 3 July. I immediately informed the Governor, who approved the visit. While I was in Peking, I was able to meet with not only Director Lu Ping and his two deputy directors but also Vice-Premier Qian Qichen. I had a 90-minute discussion with Director Lu and met Vice Premier Qian for about 50 minutes. These discussions took place in a positive and friendly atmosphere. We exchanged views on a wide range of issues relating to the transition, including the economy, the civil service and co-operation with the Preparatory Committee and the Chief Executive (Designate) and his team.

I took the opportunity to outline civil servants' concerns and to stress the need for continuity in the Civil Service to ensure a smooth transition. Both Vice-Premier Qian and Director Lu were at pains to reassure me about the importance they attached to the civil service; their desire to see continuity within the civil service; and their wish for the majority of the civil servants to continue in office after 1997, subject of course to the provisions in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law as regards the selection of the Chief Executive (Designate) and his responsibility for nominating principal officials. I very much welcomed these reassurances. I noted in particular that all my colleagues were committed to serving Hong Kong. I had a competent team in place and all policy secretaries were qualified to stay on after 1997. I also indicated my wish to continue to serve the people of Hong Kong after 1997.