XN000022-1997-01-08 — Page 6

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Question: Do you include the press in deserving sympathy?

Governor: I am madly sympathetic about the press. Perhaps I could just say one other thing. Obviously, in the Administration we have been keeping a very close eye on the property market. We are clearly concerned at some of the anxieties that are being expressed about what is alleged to be a new bout of speculative activity. We are keeping the situation under urgent review - and I mean urgent. We are keeping as close an eye as possible on things and if there does appear to be unacceptable speculation producing a bubble in the market, we won't hesitate to take whatever action may be necessary.

We were, I think, extremely successful a couple of years ago in preventing the increase of speculation which had started and I think that demonstrated our concerns. But obviously, in the long term it is important to increase the supply of flats which should be a consequence of the increase in land available for residential accommodation which we made available in the last two and a half years.

Question: To what extent does the timing of your visit indicate that the British general election is imminent?

Governor: I think it suggests that it is not going to be in the next week. The next British general election has to be. I think, before about the middle of May. But clearly, people are going to be much preoccupied with that over the Easter period when I would normally have gone to the UK, so I thought it was sensible to go at this stage.

I also want to talk about things like the regular reporting to parliament which the Foreign Secretary spoke about before Christmas, and I thought it was also time to update the Leader of the Opposition and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on what has been happening.

Question: about the war widow passports. Isn't it time they actually got them?

Governor: Yes, but without going into detail, it is not solely a question of administrators not being speedy enough. There have been problems about filling in forms and so on but we are trying to address that. The nationality issue, which obviously I will be pursuing with the Home Secretary, is the question of the ethnic minorities. Thank you very much.

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