XN000022-1996-07-17 — Page 3

2

Question: What can you expect from Mrs Regina lp as the first ever female head of the Immigration Department?

Governor: I expect her to be as outstanding and successful in her new job as she's been in her previous job. As you all know, if you talk to people who've worked with the Industry Department, who've talked to industrialists in Hong Kong, they have nothing but praise for Regina, who's been an extremely successful civil servant and she does of course have some experience of the sort of work she'll now be responsible for. She's been very good in promoting Hong Kong's economic and industrial needs and aspirations and I am sure she will be equally good in giving leadership to the Immigration Department.

Question: It's been reported that Regina Ip was approached more than two weeks ago

before actually resigned. Do you have any comments?

Governor: I know it's the case that the previous director resigned for personal reasons about a fortnight ago and that Regina was approached to ask whether she take the job about a fortnight ago.

Question: After the resignation?

Governor: I don't have anything to add to that or to what the Secretary for the Civil Service has said on a number of occasions.

Question: How do you deal with... co-operation with China to deal with...?

Governor: Well, it won't be anything to do with China after 1997. It will be entirely a matter for the Hong Kong SAR. But I am sure that the SAR Government will have as co-operative a relationship with the authorities in China about the return of illegal immigrants as we've had.

Question: Mr Patten, the PLA chief is now visiting Hong Kong and will leave tomorrow. Do you know what can be achieved... this time and do you foresee any meetings with him in the future?

Governor: His trip is a return visit. The Commander British Forces, General Dutton, went to Shenzhen a few weeks ago and this is a reciprocal return visit and I think will be valuable in showing the future commander of the garrison in Hong Kong a little about life here, and giving him the opportunity for instance of seeing some of the defence sites which will be used by the PLA. So I think it's a getting-to-know-Hong Kong visit and I am sure that there will be future opportunities for him to get to know Hong Kong even better and for him to get to know in due course when it is appropriate the civil authorities.