23 July 2003
The deaths of Uday and Qusay Husseinis a ‘very, very important move forward’, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.
The Prime Minister was answering questions while in Hong Kong.
Read a transcript of the Prime Minister’s statement
Prime Minister
Good Morning everyone. I thought I would just fill you in first of all on the talks I have just had with the Chief Executive. We had a very good session of talks together, and we talked obviously about the economy, we talked about recent issues to do with Article 23 and the demonstration there was here in Hong Kong, and I expressed my hope and wish that we could make progress in accordance with the principles set out in the Joint Declaration between the UK and China, and also in respect of the basic law. I think there is a sense certainly that I have that the authorities here are very much listening to what people say, and that everyone wants to move forward in a situation where we maintain the essential stability that is a crucial part of the success of Hong Kong. And so I would describe them as very constructive and good talks and they build on what I think really were excellent and important talks in China with the Chinese leadership. And I found the Chinese leadership when I was discussing Hong Kong with them very much aware of the need to handle the situation sensitively and in accordance with the guarantees that have been given to the people here in Hong Kong.
Question and Answer Session
Question
Prime Minister, we have had news that it seems that two of Saddam Hussein’s sons have been killed in Iraq. What is your reaction to that news?
Prime Minister
This is a great day for the new Iraq. These two particular people were at the head of a regime, there wasn’t just a security threat because of its weapons programme, but was responsible, as we can see from the mass graves, for the torture and killing of thousands and thousands of innocent Iraqis. And the celebrations that are taking place are an indication of just how evil they were. And I think what is so important is that people understand that if we are able to make the progress that we want to make in Iraq, that is going to open up not just new opportunities for Iraqi people, it is going to increase the stability of that country, of the region, and therefore the security of the whole of the world. So I think it is a very, very important move forward and I think it is great news.
Question
On Article 23, Mr Ramo (phon) had suggested that that legislation was apparently in breach of the Joint Declaration. It has now been suggested to me that you welcomed those suggested changes, so do you feel it is or is not, in its current state, in breach of the Joint Declaration?
Prime Minister
What the Hong Kong authorities are going to do is to go back and look at this whole issue again, and I think that is sensible. And I understand the concerns that people in Hong Kong have, but I think what is remarkable about this situation is that over the past few weeks you have had a huge demonstration here - half a million people - but the authorities have responded by listening, by saying that they are going to go back and take full account of the views that have been expressed.
And I think in a way, even though the situation has been very difficult and there has been a lot of political controversy, it shows a system able to adjust and do so in a stable way. Because what people in Hong Kong want of course is they want to preserve the basic freedoms that make Hong Kong special. That was the whole basis of the one country-two systems proposals. But at the same time they want, because it is essential for business here, that stability to continue. And I think from the discussions I have had both with the Chief Executive and with the Chinese leadership, they understand the need to maintain that stability whilst being entirely sensitive to the concerns that people have. So I think on Article 23, obviously you must ask the Chief Executive about this, but I think there is certainly the sense that I got that people go back and look at this thing again in a fundamental way.
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