XN000022-1996-07-25 — Page 4

3

Question: Mr Patten, has you got a reply to your letter to President Clinton ... the new regulations on Hong Kong textile manufacturers?

Governor: No, I haven't yet had a reply. Obviously we'll be very interest in what the President has to say. I think the American administration now understands if it didn't understand earlier what an important issue this is for Hong Kong, and how concern all part of the community are, by what we believe to have been unfair unilateral action by the US administration.

Question: Governor, what is your remarks on Mr Winston Lord's comment that the US government is pointing out the Provisional LegCo ... is a breach of the Joint Declaration?

Governor: What Ambassador Lord said was exactly what the State Department and the American administrations has been saying for some years. It didn't represent any departure whatsoever. Their position which I think they've expressed very carefully, is an understandable one, that is they're not parties to the Treaty which the Joint Declaration is. And it's primarily a matter for others to say whether or not an individual cause of action would be in breach of that Treaty. That's been their consistent position.

Question: Governor, Canada as a matter of course takes in refugees... around the world. Do you think that in making those comments that the external affairs minister under estimated the secrecy that you were trying to ...

Governor: I am sure he wouldn't under-estimate anything. You are quite right in saying that Canada has a distinguished record in providing a safe haven for refugees. As you will remember Canada had one of the best records of helping with the Vietnamese, particularly in the earlier days when they were deemed to be refugees and Canada has helped in many other respects as well. Canada has a very good record on these matters and I am sure Mr Axworthy intends that record would be maintained. He has a distinguished past himself as a champion of human rights and civil liberties.

Question: Governor, would you like to comment on ... about the use of hygroden peroxide, as a sacred water for healing illness...

Governor: I am going to answer that question, Carrie. I think that advice on that. subject would come better from the Director of Health rather than from me.

Question: So after your vacation ...