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CHOSEN TO MAKE HONG KONG THEIR HOME.
4. THE STORY OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN ONE OF ALMOST UNPARALLELED
ECONOMIC SUCCESS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE ENTERPRISE AND SHEER
HARD WORK OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AS WELL AS COOPERATION WITH
CHINA. BUT IT IS ALSO DUE TO THE WELL-TRIED FRAMEWORK OF STABILITY
AND CONTINUITY WHICH THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE PROVIDED FOR SO #
MANY YEARS. IT IS OUR BELIEF, AND, WE ARE CONFIDENT, THE BELIEF OF THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THE
CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG IS TO AVOID
DISTRURBING THE COMPLEX ARRANGEMENTS WHICH NOW PROVIDE
THE FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS
APPROACH REFLECTS THE INTERESTS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO OVER THE
YEARS HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE HERE.
5.
THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS WE ARE OF COURSE CONCERNED TO
GET A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIEWS OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT, AS THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO LISTEN TO OUR
VIEWS. ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING WE BELIEVE THAT THE
TALKS SHOULD FOCUS PARTICULARLY ON HOW FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS CAN
GUARANTEE THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S FREE ECONOMY AND WAY OF LIFÈ, AND THUS SUSTAIN THE CONFIDENCE WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S SUCCESS.
6. AS I HAVE SAID, WHAT IS AT STAKE IS THE CONTINUATION OF A
NOTABLY SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY. WE ARE THEREFORE COMMITTED TO
SEEKING A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
OF HONG KONG. WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR TALKS WITH THE CHINESE IN
GOOD FAITH AND WITH A SENSE OF REALISM. FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
DOWN WE ARE DEEPLY CONSCIOUS OF HONG KONG'S CONCERNS AND ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
7. I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN BUILD ON OUR GOOD RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHINA AND OUR MUTUAL RESPECT TO WORK OUT TOGETHER A
SOLUTION WHICH WILL ACHIEVE THIS.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMINED
COPIES TO
STR IAN SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER
LEGAL ADVISER
MR BURROWS
HD/HKD
BD/FED
MR ROBERTS
HD/PLANNING STAFF
MR MARTIN
HD/PUSD
}}
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/FUS
MR FLOVER
MR COLES
NEWS D
SIR A PARSONS
MR WALKER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
NO 10 DOWNING STREET RESEARCH D OAB 2/82
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR WRIGHT
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