XN000022-1996-07-05 — Page 9

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Presenter: Your point is very clear. Let's hear from the Governor. I think there are four points there.

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Governor: I think you must be living in Happy Valley, Mr Chu. First of all, the seven letters are completely irrelevant to what you are saying, there was no agreement in the seven letters. But there is a simple point at heart here. I believe in democracy, I believe that the people of Hong Kong leave the Queen out of it, leave an appointed Governor out of it I think the people of Hong Kong should choose who represents them. I don't think that choice should be made by the NCNA or the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office because I am not sure that they will want a balanced representation in our Legislature. I want everybody to be represented in our Legislature, including most decisively, Mr Chu, you.

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Question: Mr Governor, since March 1 this year there has been a crackdown on the house churches in China. House churches are independent churches, other than the three-self church, as you are aware. People who preach the resurrection, which is a basic tenet of Christianity, and say heaven, hell, angels, all these metaphysical matters, are subject to persecution. And it raises anxiety in my mind and also in the minds of other people in Hong Kong that come 1997, Hong Kong churches may have to be subjected to the three-self church which is already established here, and then whatever they preach will also be subject to the limits that the Chinese authority may choose to perpetuate here through the government here in Hong Kong, through the SAR. But I have not heard of anything of this sort in Hong Kong and I wonder why.

Governor: Can I begin by declaring an interest. I, like you, believe in the resurrection. And I, like you, am therefore concerned when I hear about the churches, whatever denomination, being persecuted or restricted in their activities anywhere in the world. The position in Hong Kong is absolutely plain, Hong Kong has been promised in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, freedom of worship, among other freedoms. We enjoy that today. The churches not only act as the channel for people's spirituality but they also play an extremely important part in our social life, health care, welfare, education, and they have a complete assurance in the Basic Law and the Joint Declaration that they will be able to continue in their present lively condition after

1997.

It would be an intolerable infringement of the Joint Declaration and it would be a breach of the Basic Law were things to be otherwise and I do not believe, even though I find myself from time to time making critical remarks about things that Chinese officials have said, I do not believe that Chinese officials could conceivably want, under any circumstances. to lend their names and their reputation to any harassment of the churches in Hong Kong.