XN000022-1996-10-02 — Page 44

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Relevant to that of course is the argument that we've had about the future of the Legislative Council. How much confidence can you place in the laws if the body which makes the laws isn't fairly elected. That's what our argument has been all about. It's been about living up to the promises that have been made to people in Hong Kong. We think the Legislative Council should continue to the end of its natural four year term. We won't have anything to do with a rubber stamp that is put in its place. I very much hope that China will think again about that. We will however cooperate and cooperate right across the board with the Chief Executive (Designate), with my successor. We will do that in as open-handed a way as possible. That's what you would have expected of us, and that's what we will certainly do.

Will Hong Kong, people ask me very often, continue to be a success story in the future? I'm sure it will. I'm sure it will provided we stand up for our values, provided we stand up for our autonomy. All around the world. people will be looking to see what happens. They'll be looking to see whether our legislature still passes laws which are in Hong Kong's interests or has laws imposed on it from elsewhere. They'll be asking whether we're still responsible for our own money, for running our own economy. They'll be asking about freedom of speech and all those other liberties in Hong Kong. They'll be watching. They'll be setting their own benchmarks. They'll be seeing what's really happening here.

We've got to stand up for those things. We've got to stand up for our own autonomy. If we do, then I'm sure that Hong Kong will have a glittering future. And as I watch it from the other side of the world, from whatever I'm doing then, I'll be the first to stand and cheer - to stand and cheer another spectacularly successful chapter in the history of a great city.

End