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In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office made the following statement today (Friday) :

Since the return of Hong Kong to China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has fully protected the freedom of speech and of assembly. Hong Kong people are free to express their opinions within the law on all issues.

In the last two and a half years, the Chief Executive has sought to further closer relations between Hong Kong and Beijing. He has met with certain leaders of the Democratic Party to promote communication and a better dialogue, with a view to creating a more harmonious society and in the hope that there will be greater recognition of what China is doing.

The Chief Executive stressed that in the last 50 years, China had undergone some unbelievable changes and that the society on the whole was very stable, the economy was growing, people's livelihood was improving, and that China's international position was increasingly being recognised and respected. The Chief Executive said that it was time to put down the baggage of June 4th and move forward, so that together we could build a better Hong Kong and contribute to China's further development. The Chief Executive did not say or suggest to the Democrats to "stop demonstrating on June 4th in return for visits to Beijing". The Chief Executive only encouraged them to do something "constructive" for Hong Kong and for the country. That was what the Chief Executive meant by "perform".

The Chief Executive has made the above points to the Democratic Party, to other parties and to many other people. These points have also been made in public. He will continue to work hard to promote understanding between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Hopefully, the gap will be narrowed, the understanding further improved and the relationship between the Mainland and Hong Kong will be strengthened.

Hong Kong enjoys the freedom of assembly, of procession and of speech as guaranteed in the Basic Law. This was the case in the past; it is the case at present and will continue to be the case in future.

The entry into and exit from the Mainland is a matter for the Mainland authorities, and not the HKSAR Government. Under "One Country, Two Systems", it is not something we can interfere with. In fact, some Democratic Party members and others of the "democratic camp" have visited the Mainland during the last two years.

End/Friday, October 8, 1999

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