TNAG-2463-FCO40-3585-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 67

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GOVER R: I HAD A 45-MINUTE DISCUSSION WITH MR ZHOU NAM. I DON'T THINK TO BE HONEST, THAT EITHER OF US WAS SURPRISED BY THE TERMS OF OUR DISCUSSION. I SAID TO MR ZHOU NAM ONCE AGAIN THAT IF THE CHINESE SIDE HAD ANY PROPOSALS TO PUT FORWARD FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES OR THE ELECTION COMMITTEE OR ANY OTHER MATTERS, I THOUGHT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD WELCOME A CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBATE WHICH SEEMED TO ME TO BE THE BEST WAY OF DEALING WITH ISSUES WITH THE SERIOUSNESS AND RATIONALITY THAT THEY DESERVE. AND NOW I HOPE THAT WHILE I'M AWAY THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE IN A CALM AND CONSTRUCTIVE AND REASONABLE WAY, AND THAT IF ANYBODY DOES HAVE ANY BETTER PROPOSAL TO PUT FORWARD THEY WILL PUT THEM FORWARD EITHER DURING MY ABSENCE OR SHORTLY AFTER I GET BACK.

QUESTIÓN:

DO YOU THINK THAT APPOINTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS SHOULD RESIGN IF THEY DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR PROPOSALS?

GOVERNOR: NO, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS AS IT IS. I NOTE THAT I THINK AT THE MOMENT MANY COUNCILLORS FROM ALL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT HAVE SUPPORTED VARIOUS ASPECTS OF MY PROPOSALS. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A VOTE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE PROPOSALS I HAD PUT FORWARD ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE WHICH SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THOSE PARTICULAR PROPOSALS, BUT THE FINAL .VOTES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WON'T COME FOR SOME TIME UNTIL THEY ARE ACTUALLY PRESENTED WITH REAL LEGISLATION. AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY AND AS LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE TO THE COMMUNITY.

QUESTION:

ANY NEWS ON SODA? AND GARETH EVANS REMARKS?

GOVERNOR: NO, IF ANYBODY SEES

IF ANYBODY SEES SODA I HOPE THEY'LL EITHER BRING HER BACK TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE OR TAKE HER TO THE RSPCA. SHE'S A WONDERFUL - LITTLE PUPPY AND WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE'LL SEE HER AGAIN SOON.

AS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS, HE IS AS YOU KNOW A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO HONG KONG. I THINK HE SAID IF ANYBODY TOOK OFFENCE AT HIS REMARKS THEN HE'LL APOLOGISE. BUT I THINK ALL OF US KNOW HIM AS A GOOD AND COMMITTED AND SINCERE FRIEND OF HONG KONG AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN HONG KONG ON MANY FUTURE OCCASIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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