XN000022-1995-10-13 — Page 20

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I say this, finally. Nobody thinks that between now and 1997 the Governor of Hong Kong is going to roar around the territory trampling on people's civil liberties. The reassurances that people look for have to be given by China and Chinese officials in words as well as deeds. And I very much hope that they will give those reassurances in the next couple of years. It's in all our interests that we should do so. This is a unique place. It's a very, very precious place. And all of us should want it to stay that way.

Question (in Chinese): Thank you Mr Patten. Questions and recommendations. First of all, on the transfer of sovereignty -- Oh sorry! The police power is too much, too great, they can stop-and-search us at any time at the moment, and I don't think they serve our rights in that way. We have no privacy. I don't think that's terribly reasonable.

Secondly, the IPCC should really be independent of the Police Force. Those who are investigating should not be police officials. Only in this way can the IPCC maintain its integrity and credibility. Vice establishments in West Kowloon.

I hope you will pay more attention to issues of livelihood as well. Could you not just focus on democracy issues? What do I mean by livelihood issues? Controlling inflation, for example; controlling public companies, utilities, control the way they increase their prices. I also am against the charging for sewage discharges.

In addition, could you also halt the importation of labour scheme immediately? I think those who are unskilled should not be allowed to come in any more because the unemployment rate is very high at the moment, 3.5 per cent. And the semi- unemployment rate is 2.5 per cent. If I had to choose, I would rather you halted the importation scheme immediately. And I wouldn't go and get CSSA assistance. I also object for you charging for sewage discharges. Lastly, Mr Patten, I will give you my address so you can contact me.

Governor: I'd be delighted to have your address and I can then send you a Christmas card! But I'll try briefly to answer your questions straightaway.

First of all, your suggestion that I shouldn't always talk about democracy and should talk about livelihood issues. I'm just looking at what I've been doing this evening which is pretty well typical of my working day, and that is dealing with all the sort of issues which, somebody talked about the Mayor of Hong Kong, which the Mayor of Hong Kong would be dealing with in other circumstances. I don't think that the position of the Legislative Council is irrelevant to all that, but I do spend most of my time talking about other things.

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