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4. THE PROBLEM THAT WE FACE IS HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THESE
REALITIES TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG'S SYSTEMS WHILE PRESERVING THE TERRITORY'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, THE AGREED COMMON AIM OF THE TALKS. THIS POSES AS MANY CHALLENGES FOR CHINA
AS IT DOES FOR OURSELVES. AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG THEMSELVES.
5. TEN ROUNDS OF INTENSIVE TALKS HAVE NOW BEEN HELD SINCE LAST JULY IN THE SECOND, MORE DETAILED PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS. THE ELEVENTH WILL TAKE PLACE ON 26/27 MARCH. IN EACH ROUND THE FRIENDSHIP WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN HAS BEEN A REAL
PLUS POINT. IT HAS MEANT THAT THE TALKS HAVE GONE AHEAD IN A
USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER. NEVERTHELESS GREAT PATIENCE IS
GOING TO BE NEEDED BY BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE CAN REACH AN
AGREEMENT WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO ALL INVOLVED. OUR
DETERMINATION TO PRESS AHEAD AND TO REACH THAT GOAL IS
UNDIMINISHED. I CAN GIVE THIS ASSURANCE: WE ARE RECEPTIVE TO ANY
PROPOSALS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE WHICH WOULD ENSURE CONTINUING
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND BE ACCEPTABLE TO PARLIAMENT, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
6.
WE ARE GETTING ON WITH THE TALKS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT
CANNOT PREDICT PRECISELY HOW LONG THEY WILL TAKE. WE ARE MAKING
A PARTICULAR POINT OF KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG OPINION, NOTABLY THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. MR LUCE PAID ANOTHER VERY USEFUL VISIT TO THE TERRITORY BETWEEN 25 AND 28 FEBRUARY, WHEN HE MET AGAIN REPRESENTATIVES OF A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION. THESE, AMONGST OTHERS, INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND
DISTRICT BOARDS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
OF DIVERSE SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. SUCH VISITS ARE AN IMPORTANT MEANS, IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO, OF KEEPING IN CLOSE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG.
7.
I MYSELF SHALL BE VISITING CHINA IN MID-APRIL FOR TALKS ON
HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE
LEADERS. FROM THERE I SHALL TRAVEL ON TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS. I MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS.
გ.
TO SUM UP OUR PRESENT TASK IS TO EXAMINE WITH THE CHINESE
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