XN000022-1997-01-16 — Page 2

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Transcript of the Governor's media session

The following is a transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, at the airport this (Thursday) aftemoon after a duty visit to London:

Governor: Excuse my voice. I left with a Hong Kong cold. I added the London cold to it. So I've got a sort of ... voice. I had a useful visit to London. I saw the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, the leader of the opposition and the deputy leader of the opposition, the shadow Foreign Secretary, the leader of the liberal democrats. I had a good session with the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons and with the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group. I talked a good deal about the present situation in Hong Kong. About the statement which the Foreign Secretary made before Christmas on the most unfortunate, unwise, unjustified decision to set up a so-called "provisional legislature" with all the damages that could do to Hong Kong and to the SAR Government. And I discussed some of the nationality and immigration questions which have been live on our agenda over the years. I think we are now in a situation in which 29 out of the 30 Hong Kong war widows would have received their passports by the end of this month. And in particular, I pressed in my meetings, all my meetings, I pressed the question of the ethnic minorities and their position in Hong Kong obviously we were pleased that the small move made by the government and the more substantial move made by the opposition. But I want to try to convince the government as well as the opposition parties that it is imperative before June 30 that this matter is dealt with and dealt with generously. So I'll be continuing to argue that and to make that case in the weeks and months ahead. Any questions?

Question: When the Government decided to take action against Laurence Leung, in other words, he left as immediate as he did. What sort of consideration that the Government made in terms of how it would affect integrity of the administration?