XN000022-1996-09-23 — Page 2

Transcript of the Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the media session given by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after attending the launching ceremony of the Occupational Safety Charter at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this (Monday) morning:

Governor: Good morning. As you know, I've given particular priority over the last few years to improving standards of safety and health at work. The figures in Hong Kong have been very bad, while all our other figures have been showing considerable improvements in our standard of living and our quality of life. So I'm very keen to support the initiative that was launched today. We've started to see some improvements in the figures overall though, in particular sectors like the construction industry we've still got plenty to be worried about but I very much hope that as a result of the recognition that safety is a shared responsibility that we will see a real improvement in the situation in Hong Kong and much fewer examples of unnecessary tragedy blighting lives, blighting families and increasing the expense of our health service and employers and our economy.

Question: How do you respond to a report from Daily Telegraph that you will take a 6- month long leave next year to act as an off-shore Governor?

Governor: It's nonsense.

Question: Just nonsense?

Governor: Complete and utter nonsense.

Question: ... There are about 50 people going on a rather rusty ship to Diaoyu Islands. There might be British subjects on board. Has the Government actually informed the Japanese authorities as to this ship and if they run into problem, can Hong Kong do anything about it?

Governor: We've behaved with this group of travellers exactly as we would behave with any other and I understand that the ship was treated in exactly the same way as other ships would have been. I hope that those involved in this enterprise don't do anything which puts their health or the health of others at risk. None of us would like to see that but of course if that sort of risk was to happen, if there were to be problems, we'd react as we would for any other Hong Kong citizens. I just hope, as I'm sure the whole community hopes, which feels very strongly about this issue, that it can be amicably sorted out between the principle parties concerned.