XN000022-1995-11-28 — Page 3

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Governor: What we are doing at the moment because we want a smooth transition is informing Chinese officials how we run our economy and how we run our public spending programmes and frankly, they should have a look at the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law and they should understand that after 1997 these are matters for the people of Hong Kong. And the people of Hong Kong aren't going to take too kindly to the suggestion that we should cut all our community programmes to shreds. One more question.

Question: Are you saying that Hong Kong people can run their own economy after 1997?

Governor: Of course. That's what it says in the Joint Declaration. That's what it says in the Basic Law.

Question: A question on the environment. The Government spent about $9 billion on the airport project. .... discrepancy...

Governor: I think you under-estimated the amount that we spent on the airport. We are spending a lot more than that on the airport. But nobody sensibly would, I think, suggest that you should directly compare what's spent on preserving our country parks which is enormously important to our environment - with what we are spending on developing our infrastructure. If you want to consider the sort of priority that we give to environmental matters, look at the proposals that we've put forward for dealing with air pollution, look at the $8 billion that we are spending on the first phase of our sewage strategy in order to clean up the waters around our shores. But also look at the efforts we are making in the New Territories through our task force to clear up those part of the environment which have been most affected by unsightly development, or by unplanned development. On top of all that, anybody who is concerned about the quality of life in Hong Kong must want to do everything possible to preserve our country parks and I hope that those who use our country parks, and who walk in our country parks will remember first of all not to drop litter in them. If you have a picnic in the country parks, please clear it up. And secondly I hope that all remember the danger of fire particularly at this time of year.

End/Tuesday, November 28, 1995