XN000022-1996-02-02 — Page 3

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Governor: I said yesterday in the Legislative Council that we've had a very successful system for dealing with labour issues over the years. It's brought together employers and employees with the Government in the Labour Advisory Board. I think it would be very dangerous if anything happened which undermined the credibility of the board or which affected the confidence which employers have in the board. So the Secretary for Education and Manpower is discussing with both sides with the employers and the employees now ways in which we can strengthen the board's position, perhaps develop its relationship with the Legislative Council. But I very much hope that we won't lose sight of the importance in Hong Kong of proceeding by consensus and co-operation. Hong Kong is a very moderate community. I think people don't want to see confrontation. They want to see us proceeding hand-in-hand and working together in the interests of strengthening Hong Kong's economy. And that will certainly be the approach which the Government takes in the coming weeks and months.

Question: So do you regard the present circumstances dangerous?

Governor: I don't regard them as dangerous. But I hope that we won't do anything further in the coming weeks and months which would undermine the credibility of the LAB and of a whole approach to dealing with economic and social issues. People, I don't think, want to see the importation into Hong Kong of the sort of industrial confrontations that we've seen elsewhere.

Question: What concrete assistance will be provided to the Preparatory Committee...?

Governor: We've made it clear on a number of occasions that we stand ready through the Liaison Office which we're establishing to help the Preparatory Committee in any way which they like. We haven't had any concrete proposals back from the Preparatory Committee, but to borrow a sporting metaphor, the ball is their court.

Question: So far there has been no request

Govemor: No.

Question: (on candidates for the Chief Executive)

Governor: I don't know who's going to be the candidate for Chief Executive (Designate). I am told that it might be a black horse ... a dark horse. So who knows. Perhaps, are you on in the running are you? I read about a lot of candidates with some members of the Preparatory Committee supporting one and some another. That's what happens in a society like Hong Kong. But I've made it clear, to come to this specific question you raised, I made it clear in the Legislative Council yesterday that I welcomed the fact that one of the members of the Executive Council is also a member of the Preparatory Committee. There's no conflict of interests, as far as I am concerned.