XN000022-1996-01-09 — Page 6

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Question: ....in what way does the British Government want to influence the work of the Preparatory Committee, in order to avoid the British authority diluting in Hong Kong?

Mr Rifkind: I think what is important is first of all that we do have good co-operation between Hong Kong and the Preparatory Committee. The Preparatory Committee is going to make very important recommendations to the Chinese Government and" therefore the closest co-operation will maximise the prospect of influencing those recommendations so that they are sensible. I think it is crucial also that the whole concept of autonomy for Hong Kong requires the Preparatory Committee itself to be sensitive to what that concept of autonomy requires. It is not just the form of autonomy, it is also the substance of autonomy. The decisions that are relevant to the internal affairs of Hong Kong will in future still be taken in Hong Kong. That's what autonomy is about. And therefore the Preparatory Committee, I hope, will wish to reflect that fact in the judgments they themselves come to on the matters for which they are responsible.

Question: The likely parameter of the Preparatory Committee should be on the 400- member Selection Committee, and also.... of the provisional legislature. In what way the British Government can influence on these two issues?

Mr Rifkind: I think it is going to be very important for us to emphasise what Hong Kong itself is emphasising, that for any organisations or institutions it is important that they are representative of Hong Kong opinion; that if the people of Hong Kong are to be confident in institutions or in organisations then they must know that the people who are going to be serving on them are representative of what people in Hong Kong actually feel and wish. There has I think been, quite rightly, a great deal of attention. addressed to that fact. It is a point which I entirely endorse and it will certainly be part of the representations that I would myself wish to make.

Question: Queenie Wan from Apple Daily. Foreign Secretary, can you tell us. whether the British Government has any role in selecting the Chief Executive Designate? And will you take this opportunity when you are in Beijing to give some advice or basic criteria to the mainland leaders in selecting the Chief Executive Designate?

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