UNCLASSIFIED
100 MDHIAN 3019
OF HONG KONG
IT'S A
A.
WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT WHILST THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THIS ISSUE ARE WELL KNOWN, BRITAIN REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTERESTS AND I THINK THAT REALLY IS THE WAY TO MAINTAIN IT AND PARTICULARLY VALUABLE PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND HONG KONG. AS I SAID, THERE HAS BEEN TALK THAT OTHERS MAY WANT TO GO THERE. IF THEY DO THEN THAT IS A MATTER FOR THEM TO TAKE THE CHOICE ON, BUT I THINK WE MUST CONCENTRATE FIRST OF ALL ON THE WIDER FORA WHICH I THINK WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. I HOPE
IT WILL BE. WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IT IS.
Q.
(WILSON WONG, TVB NEWS): A STRAIGHT QUESTION FOR A STRAIGHT ANSWER, I HOPE. AFTER YOUR FOUR DAYS VISIT IN HONG KONG, DO YOU THINK THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE DIRECT ELECTIONS NEXT
YEAR?
A.
-
THERE IS A REVIEW GOING ON AT THE MOMENT. THAT REVIEW THE CONSULTATIVE PERIOD IS COMPLETED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, UNTIL THAT REVIEW IS COMPLETED AND WE KNOW WHAT THE RESULT IS, I REALLY AM IN NO POSITION TO COMMENT ON WHAT THE OUTCOME OF IT MIGHT BE OR WHAT SHOULD TRANSPIRE AFTERWARDS. WE REALLY HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. Ι APPRECIATE THE CONCERN SEMI-COLON I APPRECIATE THE INTEREST AND I APPRECIATE THE IMPATIENCE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. BUT REALLY THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE PATIENCE. YOU HAVEN'T GOT
TO WAIT ALL THAT LONG.
Q.
(WILSON WONG): CAN I ASK A FOLLOWING QUESTION? AFTER YOUR FOUR DAYS VISIT THERE MAY BE A SITUATION WHEN HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RUN FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR, WHILE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MAY OPPOSE IT. IF IN THAT CASE, HOW WOULD YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE?
A.
·
I
WELL, WE'VE GOT TO AWAIT THE RESULT, THAT'S THE FIRST THING. THINK THAT IT OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT A CLEAR MAJORITY VIEW OF ANY OF THE OPTIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER WOULD BE A POLITICAL FACT TO WHICH IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE NECESSARY TO GIVE FULL WEIGHT NOW, BEYOND THAT I REALLY DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS PRUDENT OR POSSIBLE TO
SAY ANY MORE, I AM AFRAID.
(WILSON WONG): ANY COMMUNICATIONS THAT WOULD GUARANTEE HONG
KONG PEOPLE'S WILL WOULD BE LOOKED AFTER?
Q.
DON'T PUSH ME TOO MUCH ON THAT.
LET'S WAIT AND SEE.
WE HAVEN'T GOT LONG TO WAIT. THERE IS NOTHING I CAN SAY. IT IS
A
LET US
G
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED
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