XN000022-1997-01-08 — Page 2

- 1 -

Transcript of the Governor's media session

The following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at Central Government Offices lobby this (Wednesday) morning:

Governor: Sorry to keep you waiting in the cold. As you know, I am returning to London tonight for a short duty visit. Almost certainly the last that I will pay to the United Kingdom before the general election later this year. I am seeing the Prime Minister for lunch, the Foreign Secretary at dinner, and I am seeing the Home Secretary tomorrow afternoon. I am also seeing the leader of the opposition, Mr Blair, his deputy Mr Prescott, and Robin Cook the Labour Foreign Affairs spokesman. I am also seeing other parliamentary leaders, including members of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

I am giving a lecture tomorrow night under the auspices of the National Westminster Bank on Hong Kong and Asia. And, of course, meeting Foreign Office officials for extensive discussions. So it will be quite a busy visit, perhaps earlier in the year than I have customarily done but that is because there are particular circumstances in the United Kingdom this year. But I am happy to take questions about the visit or about any other matters that any of you would like to (raise).

Question: Governor, would you comment on the Jerry Lui case, that the United States is afraid to honour the extradition treaty fearing that there will be a trial by Chinese courts and that seems to bring the whole rule of law into question here? Is the United States acting in a responsible way and should people be afraid to extradite here?

Governor: Well, it is not a question of the United States, it is a question of one particular judge in the United States. I have to say that we were literally amazed by the decision, not least because similar arguments to those used by the defendant in this case have been put forward in other jurisdictions and totally rejected. Recently, that was the case in Canada, for example. We will be urgently seeking an appeal and seeking to delay the release of the gentleman in question.

We think it is imperative that people recognise that under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the common law and the administration of justice continue after 1997 as they are today, that Hong Kong will be a separate jurisdiction, in terms of the administration of justice, from China. That is embodied in the international treaty and we do not think should be questioned by anyone. So the simple answer to your question is that we will be urgently appealing the decision.