XN000022-1996-12-11 — Page 4

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Transcript of the Governor's media session

The following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after presiding at the Hong Kong Baptist University Commencement this (Wednesday) afternoon:

Governor: As you know I've put out a statement about the selection this morning of Mr C H Tung as the Chief Executive designate of the Government of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. I would like to send my warmest wishes to Mr Tung and Betty and his family. I've sent him a personal letter and I spoke to him on the telephone this afternoon to express my good wishes and to underline what I was saying on the radio last Sunday that the Government will look forward to co-operating with him. We are both, of course, agreed that I am responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until June 30, next year and after that he is responsible. And I will not during the course of next months seek to interfere in any way in matters which are properly his responsibility as the Chief Executive after the July 1 next year. We all know that he has a difficult and challenging job ahead of him, but in my judgement he will have the good wishes of the community, the hopes and aspirations of the community will go with him. And I am sure many people's prayers will be with him as well.

Governing Hong Kong is not a straight forward or easy job. I guess that only Mr C H Tung and I, over the next few years, will know just how tough it can be from time to time. But I am sure that he will do the job well, standing-up for Hong Kong's autonomy which is of course essential. I am sure the whole community will also hope that he will stand-up for Hong Kong's rule of law and stand-up as well for all those things which have made Hong Kong so successful over the last few years. When the Special Administrative Region Government comes into being, it will find that it is taking on responsibility for one of the most successful cities in the world. There are very strong foundations on which Mr Tung and his team will be able to build and I am sure that they will wish to do so. But today is a proud one for Mr Tung and it's a proud one for his family. And all of us, I think would want to congratulate him and congratulate his wife and congratulate his family on what is a very special day for them.

Question: So, when will you meet Mr Tung?

Governor: Well, I spoke to him on the telephone about that. We'll obviously meet once he's got the formalities of the next few days out of the way.

Question: So, do you think he is a credible Chief Executive?