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18897 1
1981 AS A RESULT OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN HONG KONG IN 1997
(IN REFERRING TO THE WOULD NEED THE APPROVAL OF THIS PARLIAMENT.
ACT, I MEAN ONLY TO NOTE THAT IF HONG KONG CEASED TO BE A DEPENDENT TERRITORY, CERTAIN AMENDMENTS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE NECESSARY.) HMG WOULD OF COURSE TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE POSITION
BUT OUR AIM OF BRITISH NATIONALS IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT. OVERALL IS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH CHINA WHICH WILL MAKE HONG KONG A PLACE WITH A GENUINE FUTURE FOR ALL ITS INHABITANTS.
11.
TO SUM UP. WE REALISE THAT THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG
WE BELIEVE THAT THE KONG REQUIRE IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS. TERRITORY HAS BUILT FOR ITSELF A SPECIAL POSITION WHICH CAN AND MUST ENDURE. WE SEE OUR GOOD RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND OUR COMMON INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S STABLE FUTURE AS A BASIS ON WHICH TO BUILD THE CONTINUITY OF A SOCIETY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SECURE HOME FOR MORE THAN FIVE MILLION PEOPLE AND A MAJOR CENTRE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WORLD ECONOMY. WE INTEND TO NEGOTIATE STRONGLY AND REALISTICALLY TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG WILL RETAIN ITS ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS AS A FREE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
PLANNING STAFF
PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
PES.B. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (MR FREELAND).
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PSA LUCE
PS/US
SFR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
IR WILSON
1R. VRAI GENT
STE C TICKELL
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF ISH COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR. ROBERTS
HR BURROWS
MR COLES NO
IERS D
LEGAL ADVS
10 DOWNING ST
MR MÄRMIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR. GOODATLL
CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR ? CRADOCK EN K195
SIE P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
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