XN000022-1996-11-01 — Page 4

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Question: Xu Jiatun, the former head of NCNA.

Governor: He said that from California, did he?

Question: It was reported in the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Governor: I saw the article by Frank Ching. But I glanced that rather than read it in detail. I'll have to go back and read it in more detail though it doesn't sound to me like an article which I'll agree with. Hong Kong is an international city and will remain an international city. There is American investments in Hong Kong. There's British investments in Hong Kong. Britain has a particularly close relationship with Hong Kong because of history. There are many people from Hong Kong at schools and universities in Britain, many people from Hong Kong own property in Britain and there are large exports in both directions. I'm sure that will continue after 1997 and of course Britain has a continuing moral responsibility to ensure that the Joint Declaration is followed and implemented as closely as possible. We can't simply walk away from that responsibility in 1997. But I don't think that is an attempt to increase our influence. I think that's not a very sensible suggestion.

Question: Qian Qichen and Lu Ping will come later this month...

Governor: You know perfectly well, the whole community knows perfectly well that the problem has never been one of members of the Hong Kong Government meeting Chinese officials. It's been Chinese officials who haven't been able to find times in their very crowded diaries to meet the Hong Kong Governor or senior officials. So the onus is on them. But I think that it would be more important, to be honest, if when Mr Qian Qichen comes, he's able to meet some of the members of the Democratic Party. He talked about that last August and I think the whole community will welcome it if he was able to begin that dialogue sooner rather than later. But I repeat that we are infinitely courteous and polite and if ever Mr Qian or Mr Lu can find time for a meeting, we will be delighted to see them and of course so would the whole community here in Hong Kong. Just look at the polls, just look at what people would like to happen.

Queston:... A final will to meet Mr Qian Qichen?

Governor: If I have to list all my ambitions in life, while it will be very nice to meet Mr Qian, that isn't the number one. The number one is that a dialogue should start between the representatives of majority opinion in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland officials. That's the most important meeting that should take place.

Question: Are you optimistic they will meet the democrats when they come here?

Governor: I don't know what was meant by the remarks made last August unless that's going to happen quite soon.

End