XN000022-1997-04-30 — Page 2

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Transcript of Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after visiting Kwun Tong District this (Wednesday) afternoon:

Question: I presume you saw the transcript from the ABC TV programme in an interview with Mr Tung Chee Hwa?

Governor: No. But go on.

Question: Well, he gave a personal commitment to freedom to protest in Hong Kong; he gave a number of reassuring statements. Are you aware of...?

Governor: Yes, I have seen the tapes.

Question: And how do you respond to them? Do you feel that they were adequate?

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Governor: I think that like quite a lot of people in Hong Kong I have been quite surprised by this sudden controversy about public order and the Societies Ordinance. It suggests a view of Hong Kong which I don't think most of us hold. If Hong Kong is as stable as people now admit and if there are going to be no real restrictions on people's right to demonstrate, then what has all this argument been about and why are changes being proposed in the Public Order Ordinance and in the Societies Ordinance?

Of course, in a civilised community like this, we can put our trust in the honesty of the leaders of our community. But even more important is to put one's trust in the rule of law because we have a society which is governed by laws, not run by men. Men come together in a Legislative Council to make the laws but it is the rule of law, rather than individual decisions by men or women, that really matters.

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So my reaction is that I remain puzzled why it has been suggested that the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance should be amended. I very much hope that the views that have been expressed during the consultation period - which I of course welcomed will be listened to. There is another extremely powerful statement by the Chairman of the Bar Association this morning, for example, which I hope will get the attention which it deserves. And I very much hope that at the end of the consultation process we can be told that it is not really necessary to change these laws and Hong Kong people can continue to be trusted to behave responsibly and with moderation, as they do today.