XN000022-1996-05-30 — Page 14

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Can I add one other point. When I was answering questions, I think it was either the last time or the time before, I mentioned the figures for the number of public meetings that had taken place in Happy Valley. Not outside the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club but outside another prestigious building, the New China News Agency Headquarters. And I mentioned the number of marches there had been to the New China News Agency Headquarters, I think the figures were 139 public meetings in two years and I think nine marches. And I said that in all that time there had only been one arrest. Now it's inconceivable I think that you could find figures like that. In other communities I think the number of arrests would probably have been far higher. In other words, I think it's unlikely that many other communities would have exercised their rights to assemble and their rights to march in such a peaceful and orderly way as happens in Hong Kong. In such a tranquil community, I don't think we should be too exercised about the law on assembly.

Mr David Chu: Mr Governor, can you comment on your relationship with the Hong Kong business community before and after your North America trip? And also what are you planning to do in the remaining 13 months of your office to improve the relationship with, and repair the international image of the Hong Kong business community?

Governor: Well, I think as far as repairing the image of, not the whole of the business community, but repairing the image of Hong Kong is concerned, the Honourable gentleman could pay a part. The Honourable gentleman was one of those members of the Preparatory Committee who was quoted, extensively, in the article which led to such excitement in other parts of the business community. I'm sure if the Honourable gentleman had spoken rather differently about his enthusiasm for Hong Kong's autonomy, democracy and civil liberties, the article would have turned out a little differently. So if the Honourable gentleman will join me in speaking up for those things which have made Hong Kong such a special and decent place, I'm sure that between us we'll be able to make an impact on international public opinion.

As for my relationships with the business community, I guess they're the same today as they were a month or six weeks ago. I doubt whether anybody has spoken up for the values which have made Hong Kong so economically prosperous. I doubt whether anybody has spoken up for those as much as I have or, if I may say so, got as much attention in the media for those speeches. I'm at the centre, or near the centre, of quite a lively controversy in Britain and Europe because of my advocacy of some of the business philosophy and economic philosophy here in Hong Kong. And I'll continue to point that out.