XN000022-1996-05-01 — Page 24

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CS: Mr President, the specific assurances, although they are not of course new assurances, are these: first of all that the Chinese leaders wish to see maximum continuity and stability in the civil service. They wish to see all civil servants remaining in their posts and serving the SAR Government after 1997.

They have reconfirmed that they have no intention of establishing a second power centre in Hong Kong before 1997 and that the Preparatory Committee will only be involved in work that is necessary for the smooth functioning of the SARG after 1997.

Above all, they have made it clear that they will maintain political neutrality within the civil service and that all they ask of civil servants is that they remain loyal and dedicated to serving the people of Hong Kong both now and after 1997.

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Mr Szeto Wah (in Chinese): Mr President, the Chief Secretary stated earlier on that we were only given the details of the 10 point list one month after the receipt because it had undertaken a commitment to keep it secret. Aside from this, I wonder if there are any other issues that the Hong Kong Government has promised to keep secret?

CS: Mr President, I do not think there is anything particularly secretive in agreeing with the Chinese that until such time as we have formalised our position on the ten requested items of co-operation that we should, for the time being, hold off publication of the list. There are no other areas where we have made any secret deals and I reiterate again we have said that we remain fully accountable to this Council in our dealings with the Preparatory Committee.

Mr Leung Yiu-chung (in Chinese): Mr President, a question for the Chief Secretary. Why has the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Government decided to keep the list secret, why is there an agreement on this?

CS: Mr President, can I make it clear again that there is no secret deal. We simply agreed to hold off publication until such time as both sides were ready to make the issue publicly known, and this the Secretariat of the Preparatory (Committee) has now done. It is, after all, their list and it is ultimately for them to decide when to publish the list.

Dr Tse Wing-ling (in Chinese): Mr President, a very brief question, a simple question. Is the Provisional Legislature legal? Can I have a yes/no answer please?

The President: Dr Tse, I think you are seeking the expression of a legal opinion which runs contrary to Standing Orders.