XN000022-1996-06-26 — Page 4

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Governor: The relationship between me and China isn't a problem of my making. It's a problem, it's a knot which has been tied by Chinese officials and I think the whole community regards it as not very sensible, and I think the whole community wishes that Chinese officials would untie the knot. But that's a matter for them. I'm going to continue for the next year doing three things. First of all ensuring that Hong Kong is as well governed as possible and I'll hope that we can complete as far as possible the major programme of reform that I put in hand in 1992. Secondly, I'll continue to defend all the promises that were made to Hong Kong in the Joint Declaration and speak out for the values and freedoms that have helped to make Hong Kong so successful. And thirdly, there are of course some outstanding matters affecting the transition which still need to be cleared up. The Joint Liaison Group is I think working much better. I think there is a much more co-operative atmosphere, and I think there is a recognition on the Chinese side of how much more needs to be done in the next 12 months. There are issues like adaptation of laws which we need to be clear about. There are issues like right of abode where there are still some questions that need to be resolved. So we'll be working to clear up those matters too in the next 12 months.

Question: Some legislators have asked you to step in and help Albert Tong who is facing deportation. What is you position on this?

Governor: My position on Albert Tong is that I'll be sending the letter that I was given by Mr Ho and Mr Cheng today to the Home Secretary. I'll be asking ministers in the United Kingdom what the latest position is on Mr Tong's medical condition. I'm sure that ministers will want to take that into account in any decisions they'll take about deportation.

Question: Some legislators... that water fees should be frozen. What is your position on freezing water fees...?

Governor: Freezing water fees. There is no such thing as a free lunch as you know and there is no such thing as a free bucket of water, Hong Kong has a programme of investment in water and in sewage and somebody has to be pay for that. I understand the concern of legislators that we should have as cost-effective a service as possible. I understand the pressure from legislators for greater efficiency in the delivery of water services and in the implementation of our sewage strategy. But if the money doesn't come from charges, then it has to come from the taxpayer, and if it comes from the taxpayer it means that money can't go on other things which legislators press us to spend on. So I think the simple reply is that while we understand the pressure for improved efficiency in the water service and elsewhere the money has to come from somewhere in Hong Kong as everywhere else.