STATEMENT BY SIR S.Y. CHUNG DURING THE MEETING WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER 5.12.84
Prime Minister,
On
Thank you first of all for making yourself available in your
busy schedule to see us. My colleagues and I are grateful
to you for agreeing to go to Beijing to sign the Agreement
and for the personal interest that you have shown throughout
the negotiations about the future of Hong Kong. This has
been a source of great comfort and reassurance to us.
this important date when the British Parliament will discuss
the Draft Agreement, I should like to pay tribute to you,
Prime Minister for the determination, commitment and sense
of resolve you have demonstrated in the last two years. I
would also like to thank Sir Geoffrey Howe whose two visits
to China marked the turning points at crucial times during these difficult negotiations. And of course, we thank the
Govenor of Hong Kong, Sir Edward Youde, Sir Percy Cradock,
your special adviser, Sir Richard Evans, HMG's Ambassador in
Beijing Mr. Richard Luce, Dr. David Wilson and all the
many members of the British team who have demonstrated such
singleness of purpose in reaching a settlement.
You will be aware, Prime Minister, that with the exception
of two Members, all the Members of UMELCO have commended the
Agreement to the people of Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong, as usual, have demonstrated their realistic
commonsense and have accepted the Agreement as a whole.
There is no doubt that the majority of the community
consider the Agreement a good one, providing a blueprint for
their future, to which they will do their part to keep stable and prosperous.