TNAG-2768-FCO40-3985-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 79

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MR CHRIS PATTEN

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29 JULY 1993

We then come to the position at the beginning of October. I think the Legislative Council would be very surprised were I at the beginning of October when I address them not to have something to say about the political development of Hong Kong, it is a statement of the blindingly obvious, and I think that they would expect that statement to go beyond one or two bland observations about hoping for success. I repeat that again today, it does not represent a change of the position that we agreed earlier this month at the Cabinet Committee meeting, it does not represent a change in the position that we have been in ever since we have got involved in these talks. So no change, I am not announcing ultimatums, I am not publicly setting out deadlines, but what I am saying is that there is a point beyond which we cannot go if we want to have the sort of clean and well prepared elections which are essential to the process of developing democracy in Hong Kong.

QUESTION:

You mentioned this morning that you had discussions with the Foreign Secretary about economic issues, could you tell us a bit

more about that?

MR PATTEN:

I discussed with the Foreign Secretary and with officials some of the issues which have an impact on our economy, for example the big infrastructure projects that we want to see completed as soon as possible, in particular of course the airport core programme.