07 JUN '91 11:39
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government. That is what we wanted, that is what is in the Joint Declaration, that is what the autonomy is all about. That is what one country, two systems is all about. Now when it comes to something where we can help. we will certainly do so. It might be that we can stand up on a soapbox and make that front page news get on the television, alternatively we might serve the interests of Hong Kong far better by going quietly behind the scenes and working at a problem. What we want is the best result, not necessarily that being the headlines.
Are you doing anything special or positive to arouse more awareness for participation into the direct election in the coming months?
Certainly, we've been very involved with that. Again it is a local issue. We were able to set up the format through the discussions in the Joint Declaration to provide the beginnings of a fully elected LegCo. Now I know that some people believe that we didn't go as fast as some would have liked. It is quite true to say that there are those in Hong Kong who say we went too fast. That is a situation that we have got to, we want the maximum participation in the elections.
This year you
already have two lots of elections, perhaps the most important one is to come. And I hope that as many people as possible will take part.
Will there be a change of powers in granting political asylum and limited leave to the Chinese students and pro-democracy activists there because it was granted well over a year and a half ago now?
I think on this you have got to be very careful to use the right terminology. We haven't set political asylum. What it is defined as is exceptional leave to remain. That is the key wording because that is the wording in
the Act. Now the Home Office who are the Department
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