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3. WE ARE GETTING ON WITH THE TALKS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT CANNOT PREDICT PRECISELY HOW LONG THEY WILL TAKE. THE ISSUES ARE COMPLEX AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE OVERRIDING CONSIDERATION
MUST BE TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION. 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 LOCAL 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. I
HOPE TO VISIT HONG KONG MYSELF SOON. SUCH VISITS ARE AN
IMPORTANT MEANS, IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO, OF KEEPING IN CLOSE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH OPINION" IN HONG KONG.
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4. THROUGH THE CONTACTS WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE HAD WITH
HONG KONG PEOPLE WITH INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE
OF OPINION WE HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THEIR OVERRIDING CONCERN
IS A PRACTICAL ONE. THEY WISH TO SEE CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS
AND THE FREEDOMS WHICH CHARACTERISE HONG KONG LIFE TODAY. THEY
WISH TO BE CERTAIN THAT IN FUTURE THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS OF
THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL BE MAINTAINED: THAT THE BASIS OF THE
CURRENT LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE: THAT HONG KONG'S
ECONOMY WILL REMAIN OPEN TO WORLD MARKETS: THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO SPEAK AND MEET AND TRAVEL AS THEY WISH. HMG FULLY
UNDERSTAND THIS CONCERN. AT PRESENT CONTINUITY IS ASSURED BY
BRITISH ADMINISTRATION. BUT WE BEAR IN MIND THE REALITIES OF
THE SITUATION AND OF HONG KONG'S UNIQUE HISTORIAL AND
GEOGRAPHICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE LEASE
ON 92 PER CENT OF THE TERRITORY EXPIRES IN 1997. FOR THE PUTURE,
IT IS POSSIBLE TO VISUALISE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH CONTINUITY
CAN BE ASSURED. THE IDEAS ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE PUBLICLY
EXPRESSED BY TEE CHINESE THEMSELVES LAY HEAVY STRESS ON
CONIINUITY OF HONG KONG'S SYSTEMS AND THE WAY OF LIFE OF
PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. OUR PRESENT TASK IS TO EXAMINE ALL OPTIONS
THOROUGHLY AND SERIOUSLY TOGETHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
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