XN000022-1997-04-07 — Page 3

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Transcript of the Governor's media session

The following is the transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, speaking to the media after a tea reception for wives and widows of ex-Prisoners of War, and ex-servicemen today (Monday):

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Governor: I am delighted that we have been able to invite to Government House, this afternoon, the wives and widows of those brave servicemen, who have been campaigning for many years for full British citizenship a mark of the valour and service of their husbands. I am delighted that that campaign which has been long and bravely fought, has been successful, and I wanted to have the opportunity of inviting these ladies to Government House this afternoon to thank them very much.

But, of course, I also wanted to thank Jack Edwards who has been the tireless campaigner on the ladies behalf. He has campaigned, literally, right around the globe for them and I hope this is a justifiably proud moment for Jack this afternoon.

Wilkinson Sword have helped us generously with many of the arrangements and we are very pleased to have had their support as well.

So it has been the end of a long story but it has ended happily and successfully and many of the reasons for that are standing next to me: Jack Edwards. Jack, thank you very much.

Mr Jack Edwards: Thank you very much.

Governor: Do you want to say a word?

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Mr Jack Edwards: Yes. I would like to say that I could not have got here today without the Governor's help. You who have been in Hong Kong have known I have been fighting for over 30 years for benefits for the veterans. But this was the culminating the passport was the hardest of all. We won medical benefits, we won grants from the War Memorial Fund; they turned it into a pension. But the passports were the hardest to get because in 1986 I won it for the men under the 1981 Nationality Act but the ladies was the most difficult battle. But I could not have done it without the backing of the Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and of course the Prime Minister, John Major, and the Home Secretary, and of course the Leader of the Opposition Tony Blair, and Robin Cook, who both gave me their hands on this issue.

And of course I have got to thank you, the media, who have been right behind me all the way. Thank you very much.

End