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Transcripts of the Governor's speech

The following is a transcript of a speech given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at a dinner given in honour of the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Major, at Government House last (Sunday) night:

Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen,

The last time, Prime Minister, that you and I spoke as it were side by side, the circumstances were certainly very different. I think it is fair to say the continent was different too. But going back even further into the dark ages, when we were both young with hardly a grey hair between us, the first time we spoke, if not side by side then certainly seriatim, was when we were in the same queue of aspirants applying to become the Conservative Party's candidate in Huntingdon, a safe seat in England.

As my guests may have noticed this evening, I was not chosen. I doubt whether either of us, Prime Minister, would have guessed then where politics and chance were to carry us. I break no secrets when I say again, which you know I mean. that I am delighted that a fair wind carried you to Number 10 Downing Street, and that it's brought you here again tonight.

You are the second British Prime Minister to have visited Hong Kong in office. This is the fourth visit by a serving Prime Minister. Your predecessor came twice, and you have come on your second visit as well. But this is a community which of course you know well, first as a banker and we have lan Wilson here tonight to prove it - I hope John Gray doesn't mind me making that point and more recently, as politician and as Prime Minister.

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We are delighted that we are able to see you at the end of a week which has included among much else the Anglo-Irish Summit and the Bangkok Summit. All of us are accustomed to being introduced by chairmen who express their gratitude that we've interrupted our busy schedules to come and speak to them. Prime Minister, we are a part not just of your busy schedule this week but of an extraordinarily punishing schedule, and we are extremely pleased that you are able in those circumstances to spend a couple of days here with us in Hong Kong.