SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH
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PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON HONG KONG : 16 MAY 1984. Engaged in dyin
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1. I am very glad that we have the opportunity tonight to debate the important issue of Hong Kong's future. It is a matter of prime concern to her Majesty's Government. Discussions on the issue dominated the visit to Peking and to Hong Kong which I undertook in April as part of a tour to the Far East.
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The last occasion on which the House discussed the issue was
the Foreign Affairs debate on 22 March. Introducing that debate I
explained to the House that in our approach to the negotiations with
the Chinese Government on Hong Kong's future, we had to bear in mind the realities of the situation and the unique historical and
geographical circumstances of Hong Kong. I noted the desire of the people of Hong Kong to preserve the vital elements in their society, and to see the prospect of continuity in the system and the freedom that characterise Hong Kong life today. I recalled that at present,
continuity was assured by British Administration, but that in 1997
Britain's lease of 92% of the territory would come to an end. In
those circumstances, I concluded, it became possible and indeed
desirable to visualise other ways in which continuity could be assured.
3.
My visit to Peking lasted from 15 to 18 April. I held talks
there with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian, with Ji Pengfei
of the State Council,
with Premier Zhao Ziyang and with Chairman Deng Xiaoping. Our talks did not deal exclusively with the question of Hong Kong.
We were
able to discuss a wide range of international issues, and I was gratified to note the many subjects on which the British and Chinese
Governments hold common view-points. We also confirmed the
excellent state of our bilateral relations. However, by far the
greatest part of the talks were spent in serious and detailed discussion on all aspects of the future of Hong Kong. My aim was to sum up the course of negotiations so far and to give them a new
impetus. The meetings were business like and the atmosphere was invariably good.
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