XN000022-1995-07-20 — Page 2

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Transcript of Governor's meet-the-media session

The following is a transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's media session after his visit to Tsuen Wan District today (Thursday):

Governor: Good afternoon. I enjoy making another official visit to Tsuen Wan. I of course made several other visits to Tsuen Wan over the last few weeks. It's my third or fourth visit in about a month and I have been discussing with the District Board some of the local problems they have, particularly comprehensive development of some of the older neighbourhoods, the impact of traffic on Tsuen Wan and other similar matters. And we'll be looking forward to co-operating with the District Board in tackling those problems.

Question: Do you think that Beijing is overly reckless in its...exercise off the coast of Taiwan? What are our reactions on that?

Governor: I don't think that it is appropriate for me to comment in detail on an issue like that. It's safe to say that obviously, like everyone else in Hong Kong, I very much hope that any problems and difficulties in the region can be sorted out speedily and peacefully. I think that's the feeling that everybody has here in Hong Kong.

Question: Mr Patten, is Britain trying to further distant itself from Hong Kong by abolishing the sub-committee on Hong Kong affairs in the cabinet?

Governor: No, anybody who knew the faintest thing about British politics or the way, that British civil service operates would know that that was a ludicrous suggestion. What's actually happened is that all the sub-committees of the policy committee that looks after foreign affairs and defence have been amalgamated into the main committee. It doesn't make any difference whatsoever. No difference at all to the way that Hong Kong business is conducted. I will still be asked to return whenever the Overseas Policy and Defence Committee discusses Hong Kong, so will our ambassador in Peking. And I repeat, it amounts to a rationalisation of the committee structure rather than a down grading. All, repeat, all the sub-committees of Overseas Policy and Defence Committee have been

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Question: But why abolishing it at this moment causes so much concern among the public?

Governor; It doesn't cause too much concern about the public unless you get the wrong end of the stick. And what I am telling you is what the right end of the stick is.