UNCLASSIFIED
100364
MDHIAN
1
SHALLOW AND EVASIVE ANSWERS TO MATTERS OF GENUINE AND DEEP CONCERN. I MEAN, IS THIS INDICATIVE OF BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE TO, INTEREST IN AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG?
A:
I'VE GIVEN HAVE WELL, I AM SORRY IF YOU FEEL THAT ANY ANSWERS BEEN SHALLOW AND INSINCERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW I FEEL.
(LORNA WORKMAN):
NO, I SAID SHALLOW AND EVASIVE'.
Q.
A.
OR EVASIVE EITHER. THE FACT IS THAT I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN UP HONG KONG MY RESPONSIBILITIES I REGARD MY RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARD AS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE. THAT IS WHY I PARTICULARLY ASKED, THE VERY FIRST DAY I ARRIVED IN THE OFFICE, THAT MY FIRST VISIT BE TO HONG KONG. I AM NOW HERE. I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE FILLED IN FOR ME MUCH OF THE INFORMATION THAT COULD ONLY REALLY BE OBTAINED BY A
EITHER VISIT HERE. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENTION TO PROVIDE EVASIVE ANSWERS, APPEAR TO BE SHALLOW OR ANYTHING ELSE. TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO DO
PRECISELY THAT.
I AM HERE
WHAT (LORNA WORKMAN): COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG?
ABOUT YOUR GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST IN AND
Q.
A: WELL, I THINK I DESCRIBED THAT QUITE CLEARLY AT THE BEGINNING SO I THINK, IF YOU READ INITIAL STATEMENT, YOU'LL SEE THAT I MADE CHAT PERFECTLY CLEAR.
Q.
(LORNA WORKMAN):
'COMMITMENT' PERHAPS, BUT NOT
'INTEREST'.
KEEN
·
A: ΝΟ YOU ARE QUITE WRONG. I AM SORRY THERE IS A VERY INTEREST AND I CERTAINLY HAVE NOT DETECTED ANY LACK OF INTEREST FROM THE MANY DEBATES WE'VE HAD IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, LET ALONE IN OTHER PARTOS OF GOVERNMENT.
Q.
(BERNARD FONG): NO ONE IS DENYING OR DOUBTING YOUR INTEGRITY,
SIR.
WE TRUST YOU IN FULL AND WE TRUST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN FULL. BUT I THINK WE MUST REGISTER ONE FACT, THAT HONG KONG INTEREST IN THE EYE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS SECONDARY TO RELATIONS WITH THE MAINLAND, WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. AND THAT'S ONE REALITY WE MUST ADDRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE 5.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN CRUCIAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
A:
TO BE
NO,
WHAT YOU SUGGEST IS NOT SO AT ALL.
OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS
DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES
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