XN000022-1996-07-05 — Page 3

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Transcript of Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the media session given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after attending an RTHK phone-in programme this (Friday) morning:

Governor: Good morning. I'm going back to Europe this evening for a week, and perhaps it will be a help to you if I say a word or two about that now rather than dragging you out to the airport tonight. I'm going to Brussels on Monday and Tuesday for meetings with the President of the European Commission, Mr Santer; Sir Leon Brittan, the Vice-president; and a number of other commissioners, both to talk about trade issues and to talk about visa-free access. So that's quite a heavy agenda but I was very pleased with Sir Leon's visit to Hong Kong a few weeks ago and we do want to ensure that there is as good and understanding a relationship between the European Union and Hong Kong as possible. I'm then going to London for a few days where I will be seeing the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and other senior officials and where I'll be making a speech on Wednesday night. And then on Saturday night before flying home, I'm taking the salute of the Royal Tournament at which the Royal Hong Kong Police Band will be one of the star turns, so it will be a great pleasure and I'm delighted to hear them playing in Earls Court rather than in my back garden. So I'll be back a week on Monday.

Question: Mr Patten, what do you think about one of your advisors Mr Jimmy McGregor and his Democratic Foundation yesterday claimed that if C Y Tung...

Governor: C H Tung.

Question: C H Tung, sorry, and Mrs Anson Chan remain as the head of the civil service ...?

Governor: I can't comment on what individual political organisations say about the Chief Executive (Designate). This is a free society and everybody can express their views about who the Chief Executive should be just as they can express their views about who's going to win the next race at Happy Valley.

Question: But Mr McGregor is an ExCo member. Does it imply that...?

Governor: No, it just implies that my executive councillors are independent minded and speak out when the occasion should demand, but there's no question of us having in the Executive Council taken a view of the issue. We couldn't and we wouldn't.