XN000022-1996-12-07+08 — Page 14

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But what happens before 30th June next year is just as clearly my responsibility. And Article 30 of the Joint Declaration pledges China's co-operation in my discharge of that responsibility. I intend that Hong Kong should continue to be run as competently and decisively as possible, while being well aware of the ticking of the clock and the passing of the hours.

We're not in a countdown to the end of good government in Hong Kong. It's my duty to ensure that Hong Kong is well run before the middle of next year in order to make certain that the government after that has a secure and broad foundation. Good government in Hong Kong, good government anywhere, can't be turned on and off like a car engine.

The foundations today - just taking a rain check on where we've got to - are in good shape. Who predicted a few years ago that the economy would be as strong today as it is? Our institutions are also very healthy - the civil service, the police, the courts system. We've got a comprehensive network of community programmes. We're investing heavily in our infrastructure. Crime is falling. All of that doesn't mean that there are no problems ahead. There are. The Chief Executive candidates themselves have focused on some of these. We have to go on working away at our competitiveness. We have to address new social needs when they arise. But we're well placed to tackle those issues. There's money in the bank and a lot of international goodwill, too.

So while the Chief Executive will have one of the toughest jobs in the world, he's going to be running a thriving city. Hong Kong is a going concern. The job will be a vast challenge for the Chief Executive, but not an impossible one and not a challenge bereft of interest, excitement and sheer enjoyment.

The Chief Executive will also know that the whole community is willing him to do well, that everyone will want him to make a big success of the job. Because his success will be Hong Kong's success. That is a source of great strength and should help him to take all those decisions that will help to convince Hong Kong opinion and international opinion that Hong Kong is going to remain free, largely autonomous, stable and prosperous.

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There's one other issue that I want to mention this morning in order to put some doubts that arose this week to rest. Let me repeat today what I told the Legislative Council on Thursday afternoon. British passports received under the British Nationality Selection Scheme the BNSS are identical to British citizen passports received through any other route. They are the same passports as my passport or John Major's passport. The British Government draws no distinction whatsoever between passports acquired under the BNSS and British citizen passports acquired in any other and nor, after 30 June next year, will the British Consulate-General in Hong

way Kong.