XN000022-1996-05-21 — Page 2

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Transcript of Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the remarks made to the media by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after attending the ExCo meeting this (Tuesday) afternoon:

Governor: I'm very pleased with President Clinton's decision yesterday on MFN. It's an important decision for Hong Kong. But of course there's still a long way to go. I think as you know President Clinton made it clear to me when I saw him a couple of weeks ago that the administration remained committed to unconditional renewal of MFN. But of course it's now for Congress to make its views clear. I trust that the lobbying that we've done in the Senate and the House of Representatives will have some impact on that debate. I'm delighted that the American Chamber of Commerce has been working so hard on Hong Kong's behalf in the United States, and you've probably heard that the leaders of the Amcham group referring to the helpful visit which I paid to Washington a couple of weeks ago and before that which Martin Lee paid to Washington. So, so far so good, but still some way to go.

Question: (on letter from the chambers of commerce)

Governor: The letter which is placed in advertisements in some newspapers this morning is I understand an open letter to the Prime Minister, and I'm sure the Prime Minister will be replying in due course and I obviously wouldn't want to say anything before that. I think the only point I would add is these organisations having got involved in politics, I imagine people are going to be looking for their views on lots of issues like the protection of human rights, the independence of the judiciary, the political neutrality of the civil service, the development of democracy in Hong Kong, I guess all those issues are going to be put to them. But as far as the letter is concerned, I think I'll wait for the Prime Minister's reply.

Questions: (follow-up)

Governor: I've said what my view is on the issue at the moment. You can ask the question in different ways, but you'll get the same courteous, well-mannered, gentlemanly but reasonably forthright reply.

Question: (inaudible)

Governor: I think on the same day that letters are being written on related subjects, my reaction is probably demoticly come off it. We've made our position absolutely clear on the Legislative Council and on threats to dismantle it, and I don't think anybody should be in any doubt about that. But I don't think that either of the attacks made on the government from one side or the other are either fair or well judged.