XN000022-1995-10-13 — Page 6

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Question: His Excellency, Sir, Chris Patten, under your able guidance and administration, everything has gone so well. I will say a few words on the British Empire. Hong Kong's so tiny. A fisherman's island to have progressed so well British administration, but what chance do we have now, after 1997. I .... will be leaving us but the one thing I should appeal to LegCo Members to give full co- operation, 100%. Nobody's perfect on this earth. We are all, all fallible (inaudible). So in order to get the good relationship with China, my humble opinion is that something should be done, one should sacrifice. Nobody is perfect. The Chinese may demand something but I think if we think that something can be done should be done now and I personally feel very strongly that we can change our mind, you can be a little flexible, we should not be rigid and I personally appeal to LegCo Members (inaudible) here I am, devoted my whole life in Hong Kong, more than 45 years. I link with the Lions Association, I have done service programme and blind, this and that, Hong Kong Eye Bank. I feel that I'm more comfortable with Hong Kong people. Some people say "are you leaving Hong Kong?" I say, "No, no, I am identified with Hong Kong, I am (inaudible) with Hong Kong, I am linked with Hong Kong, so why should I leave Hong Kong?".

Governor: The first thing I want to say is that Hong Kong is a 97%/98% Chinese community, so the main credit for the success of Hong Kong goes to the men and women and young people who have worked so hard, who have shown so much entrepreneurial skill, who have shown so much energy over the years, in creating a community which others regard as a marvellous example, not just of how to run an economy but of how to run a free society. I think the main contribution which governments have made over the years is to provide a framework within which people can excel and prosper and live their own lives in decency. And that framework, we usually call the rule of law. I believe that if the people of Hong Kong wish that framework to continue, if they are sufficiently committed to the rule of law continuing, it will, and that Hong Kong will continue to show the world how to live a decent, free and prosperous life.

I agree with you that we do need to co-operate, all of us. The Hong Kong Government needs to co-operate with the future Government of Hong Kong and we have put forward proposals for doing that. The Government and the Legislative Council need to co-operate, as I'm sure we will be able to do. What none of us should forget is that what is happening in 1997 is one of the most important events in the world, not just for this decade but for this generation. That's why people will be watching here so closely, because of the implications for everyone of success in Hong Kong. And I believe that we will be successful if we're sufficiently determined to stand up for the values that we've cherished over the years.