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Transcript of the Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, speaking to the media after his visit to Rutonjee Hospital this (Monday) afternoon:

Question: Mr Patten what do you feel to see the PLA troops coming into Hong Kong?

Governor: Obviously, the advance detachment which has arrived today has an important and useful role to play in preparing the ground for the arrival of the whole garrison after 1 July. I think that we have achieved what the community recognises is a sensible agreement for this first stage of the deployment and I hope it will ensure that the garrison arrives smoothly and efficiently in the future and performs the role assigned to it in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.

I am sure that the garrison commanders and the garrison members will want to give the best possible example of how the PLA behaves and I am sure that will go for this advance deployment as well.

Question: Governor, do you think that the advance detachment of the PLA can get along well with the British Army?

Governor: I am sure that they will work sensibly together. They are professionals, they are soldiers; soldiers invariably get on well with other soldiers. I think that our Commander, General Dutton, has got on, personally, very well with his opposite number, and I am sure that everyone will work together to make the transition of the garrison as smooth and successful as possible.

Obviously, just as we want to see the PLA garrison arrive as efficiently and professionally and smoothly as possible, so they will want to ensure that the departure of what is left of the British garrison, on 30 June, is managed as efficiently as possible as well.

I think the whole community welcomes the arrangement within which the advance detachment will be working. As you know, they are subject to our laws and are conducting themselves, I think, in a sensible, low-profile way.

Question: And now the JLG is discussing about the second batch of the advance detachment, do you think it is also a sensible arrangement?