TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 37

28-OCT-1992 19:55

HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE

852 521 1968

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papers, that all the exchanges between the British and Chinese Foreign Ministers

seen by the Executive were

Council of Hong Kong and discussed by the Executive Council of Hong Kong. No deal, hence the fact that the Basic Law is silent on the issues which I had to address in my Legislative Council speech. Now that those documents are published, I hope that we can get back to the real issue which is this: if people have an alternative to the proposals that I have put forward they should say clearly what it is so that the people of Hong Kong and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong can discuss matters calmly and rationally and intelligently. That in my judgment is the way forward; that in my judgment is the way to ensure that we have the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong that all of us want.

Q:

There is this widespread criticism from people like stockbrokers that your proposals for the 1995 direct elections will undermine prosperity and stability in the long run. Do you agree with that? If not, why not?

Governor:

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I think that my proposals and the stand that I have taken, are likely. to produce stability in Hong Kong than the reverse. I think that it would promote a lack of stability if the Governor of Hong Kong was to spend the next five years resisting

five years resisting every modest request for an extension of democracy. Let's remember precisely what I am asking for. What I am saying is that the 1995 elections should be conducted on a basis which is fair, which is open and which is acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. If anybody wants to put the case for election arrangements which are unfair, which are secretive and which are unacceptable to the people of Hong Kong, I'll look forward to hearing it.

0:

Mr Patten, do you, think such kind of release of documents can open the dialogue between the two governments to continue to talk on what you say, the proposal on your speech?

Governor:

I think that in view of the allegations that were made, there was no choice but for me to make the documents public, because I don't want anybody in Hong Kong to think that deals are being done behind their back. That, I repeat, is why I have been open and honest with the people of Hong Kong about how I see about their political future. It wasn't Chris Patten who made those allegations but it is Chris Patten who has, with the support of the British Foreign Secretary and the British Government, released those documents. Now with that behind us I very much hope that we can get back to talking about the arrangements that have to be made for the 1995 elections.

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