XN000022-1996-12-20 — Page 7

-

Question: Governor, are you saying that you are reluctant... the reality of the setting up of the provisional legislature?

Governor: The reality are the promises that China, as well as Britain made in 1984, and if China thinks that by doing what's going to happen tomorrow, China is keeping those promises then our challenge is this, let's go to the international court and see what independent arbitration says about it. The fact of the matter is - and it's quite nice to be able to finish the answers to your very good questions. The fact of the matter is, there is no reference to a provisional legislature in the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law. There is one Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Mr Qian Qichan himself has said that there is only one legislature in Hong Kong before July 1, 1997, and I hope he will standby his word.

Question: Do you think that Mr C H Tung's pledge to minimise the conflicts with the current Legco can be a good common ground to co-operate administration?

Hong Kong

Governor: I think that there is one thing that you should all accept and that is the good faith of Mr Tung and myself in trying to find as much common ground as possible in the months ahead. Both of us know one and other's views on issues very well, because we debated these matters for four years in the Executive Council. I think we will both be working to minimise the disagreement rather to maximise the disagreement. I have no doubt at all that there will be our joint objective and one which I hope will be able to secure.

Question: Do you think that you will agree to disagree to what ... to cooperate on provisional legislature with Mr CH Tung?