XN000022-1996-02-01 — Page 11

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Answering in that context, let me remind the honourable member of what I have always said. I've always said that we would want the maximum co-operation with the Preparatory Committee provided - and these were the reasonable parameters I spelled out I think first of all in 1984- provided that is in line with the Joint Declaration, provided it's in interests of Hong Kong and the people of Hong Kong and so on. We gave some perfectly reasonable conditions.

I don't think that it would be in the interests of the people of Hong Kong to chuck this Legislative Council out or to try to turn the clock back on the process of democratisation in Hong Kong. I don't think it would be in the interests of the people of Hong Kong to try to go back on the promises that were made about elections in the Joint Declaration and subsequently. So I see no reason at all why the Government should collaborate in the destruction of this Legislative Council to which it is accountable.

Mr Tsang Kin-shing (in Chinese): Thank you Mr President. Mr Governor, whether it's lucky or not, last Wednesday, no last Friday you didn't pass Hau Tak Estate. Actually you like to visit many places in Hong Kong. Last week if you passed Hau Tak Estate, you would be crushed under the footbridge. I don't know whether you are lucky or not but somebody was unlucky.

On the whole, in terms of industrial safety, I think the Government has not done its part in terms of licensing of construction workers, there is no such licensing apart from plumbers.

I'm talking about labour issues. I'm not talking about the Preparatory Committee. Well my question on the Preparatory Committee cannot be answered by the Governor.

Concerning the Chek Lap Kok airport, the Chek Lap Kok airport is having a size similar to that of the Kowloon peninsula but there is no emergency hospital service, it's a labour issue.

In recent months there are problems with the imported labour, you had summit meetings. The foreign workers were dismissed. The Government has done nothing about it. Does the Government admit that there is not enough manpower in monitoring the importation of foreign workers and you have not done your part?

Governor: First of all can I offer my sympathy to those who suffered as a result of the bridge collapse.