XN000022-1997-04-24 — Page 13

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I am referring to the sad case of the illegal child Chung Yeuk-lam, who was evicted from Hong Kong with her parents; her mother was bound and hurt and wounded. And I don't know whether the Governor would agree with me that this eviction, which touches upon human compassion, is also something which is incompatible with Hong Kong, our stand on civil liberties, our stand on human rights, and our stand on the right of the child, even though she is an illegal immigrant. Now I would like to have the Governor's answer to that please.

Governor: The photographs which go around the world when one has to deal with a case like this, and it is the same in any society, give the worst sort of public relations, give the worst sort of impression of a society. We, of course, recognise that. But who is to blame? Many of us here are parents and I think we have views about how, as parents, we would be prepared to act towards our children and how we would not be prepared to act. I'm not sure, whatever the bonds of affection and love, I would want to fill the corridor outside my flat or home with 30 journalists and television-cameras. There for what reason? Of course reporting an important news matter. But there, also, to try to serve the interests of a parent who had presided, not for the first time, over something that was illegal.

I have to say, my heart goes out to those people who have to make the policy work, who have to implement it. My heart goes out to the immigration officials, to the Social Welfare Department people for whom the honourable lady was once responsible with considerable distinction, having to make a policy like this effective. And why do they have to do it? For the reasons which we were discussing earlier. Because the moment that we back-off, the moment that we are not prepared to see a policy through, is the moment when the skinheads when the snakeheads skinheads too -- is the moment when the snakeheads, with their skinhead views - let me put it that way - are able to increase the credibility across the border that there may be some change in policy.

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I have been through one or two of these cases before and the moment that you are not prepared to see a policy through which is right, just because of the photographs, the moment you are not prepared to back-up your own officials when they are doing a very difficult, unpleasant job, the moment you get to that situation is the moment you are ceasing to provide any leadership in a community. So I take full responsibility for what has happened as the head of the Administration. I hope that we have learnt from our experiences this time and can avoid some of the problems which were created. But it is very difficult to carry off something like this in a way which can't be used and manipulated, and I regret that that happened once again.

Mr Tsang Kin-shing (in Cantonese): Thank you Mr President. Only 68 days to go before the change of sovereignty and I am sure on the day of your departure from Hong Kong I won't be there to see you off because I will have to face new challenges and I will have to be subject to new pressure and so probably I won't be able to see you off from Hong Kong.