XN000022-1996-03-05 — Page 3

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Governor: Well, I haven't heard about the latter point. But it's nothing to do with the Chinese Government or any other Chinese authority whether the Lutherans hold the conference here in 1997. It's entirely a matter for them. This is a free society in which people enjoy freedom of religious worship, in which they enjoy freedom to organise conferences as they wish. The Hong Kong Government doesn't interfere in those matters now. Those are things that are guaranteed in the Joint Declaration. It's nothing to do with the Chinese Government whether the Lutherans have the conference in the summer of 1997, and I very much hope that they will have a successful conference and enjoy Hong Kong as much as the rest of us do.

Question: But is it already on JLG discussions ...?

Governor: You've asked about three questions already. No. It's nothing to do with the JLG as I've just said in my reply.

Question: You think the SAR should also give the visa-free arrangement for the British people who will come to Hong Kong after 1997 in return?

Governor: I am sure the SAR Government will want to have as open a policy as far as travellers and visitors and business people are concerned as we have today. Hong Kong is a great international city. One of the reasons for its success is that people can come in and out very freely as to do business, to invest, to set up firms, to visit. We're one of the business centres in the world and one of the tourist centres in the world as well. O.K.

Question: What is your plan after 1997?

Govemor: To have a rest. I shall have a lie-in and hope that somebody brings me a cup of coffee in bed. And then I shall spend some time reading and writing and reflecting on what a happy five years I've had in Hong Kong.

End