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THE FUTURE TO BE CONDUCTED ON A MORE INFORMED BASIS.
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13. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OUR CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROCESS. IT HAD TAKEN MANY FORMS OUR CLOSE
CONTACT THE WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINISTERIAL VISITS TO THE TERRITORY, THE RECEPTION OF DELEGATIONS TO LONDON AND ATTENTION TO THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS WHICH REACH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
THROUGH MANY CHANNELS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE HONG KONG
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT IN OUR
APPROACH TO THE NEGOTIATION WE ARE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
GETTING THE RIGHT AGREEMENT. THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, ACTIVE
AND DIVERSE FROM THE BEGINNING, HAS BEEN INTENSIFIED SINCE MY
VISIT TO THE TERRITORY. AND IN DUE COURSE THE HONG KONG PEOPLE
WILL HAVE A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE TEXT
OF A DRAFT AGREEMENT. IT IS STILL TOO SOON TO SAY EXACTLY HOW
OUR ASSESSMENT OF HONG KONG OPINION WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD AT
THAT STAGE. THERE ARE MANY CHANNELS OPEN TO US, BOTH FORMAL AND
INFORMAL. HOWEVER, I SHOULD SAY TO THE HOUSE NOW THAT IN MY VIEW
THERE ARE VERY REAL DRAWBACKS TO THE IDEA OF A REFERENDUM.
14. THROUGHOUT OUR CONDUCT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON HONG KONG'S
FUTURE, THE ANXIETIES AND CONCERN OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORY
HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS. I AM VERY CONSCIOUS
THAT IT IS THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD WHICH IS AT STAKE.
I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THEIR FORTITUDE, JUST AS I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT DISPLAYED
BY THE MEMBERS OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC SERVICE. THE RESILIENCE AND
INITATIVE WHICH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN IN THE PAST WILL
ONCE AGAIN BE TESTED. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE
STRENGTH AND THE DETERMINATION TO CONTEMPLATE THEIR FUTURE
CONSTRUCTIVELY AND IN A SPIRIT OF REALISM, WITH A SENSE OF
COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THAT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE ALREADY IT IS HONG KONG PEOPLE NOT HMG, WHO MANAGE HONG
KONG. THE DECISIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG SOCIETY, ITS ECONOMY,
ITS CURRENCY ARE TAKEN WITHIN HONG KONG AND BY HONG KONG.
15. THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG ALONG
INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE LINES, WHICH I FULLY ENDORSE,
WILL
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