XN000022-1996-07-15 — Page 3

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Question: Governor, have you decided who will take up the post of Director of Immigration? Is she the present Director of Trade (sic) Regina Ip?

Governor: We'll be making an announcement shortly. There is a report in one of, I think two of, this morning's papers that I discussed that appointment when I was in London. Those reports are completely untrue.

Question: Do you think that the Government and Mr Leung should explain to the public that why he suddenly retired?

Governor: I think that the Government and Mr Leung have already made the position as clear as is necessary. The Secretary for the Civil Service answered questions in the Legislative Council at length last week, gave comprehensive replies. There is a difference between collective curiosity and the public interest.

Question: What question hadn't been answered, Governor, was Mr Leung asked to retire?

Governor: The position is that Mr Leung retired on personal grounds and Mr Lam, the Secretary for the Civil Service, answered that question at considerable and comprehensive length last week and I have nothing whatsoever to add to what he said.

Question: But how about the Legislative Council insist on having a public hearing on his case. How would the Government... would you yourself come to the public hearing and clarify...

Governor: We'd give replies as comprehensive as those that we've given so far. They would be no more and no less comprehensive.

Question: As far as the report on Anson Chan is concerned, do you think it is okay or is it all right for Anson Chan to quit all her official positions and just... to help out the future Chief Executive to ...?

Governor: I gave what I thought was a very unequivocal reply to that question so there is no point in me answering a question as though I've given the opposite reply.

Question: ... This transitional period, is it necessary for a team of top government officials quit their job in order to help or give assistance to the future...?

Governor: We haven't got even close to the Selection Committee yet. How can we start answering detail questions about in which particular ways we would help the Chief Executive Designate who emerges from that selection committee. All that I'll repeat, which I have said many times before, is that we wish to give the Chief Executive Designate as much help as he or she needs.