CONFIDENTIAL
WINDING UP SPEECH BY LADY YOUNG
HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE, 10 DECEMBER
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
(A) INTRODUCTION
1. I should like to begin by thanking noble Lords for their speeches in this debate. As I predicted at the beginning we have had a well-informed and I believe valuable debate. In
1898 Lord Salisbury was able to say - apparently without contradiction when introducing to the House the 1898 Convention of Peking that the details of it were perhaps not of general interest. Times have evidently changed.
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Indeed the interest that noble Lords have demonstrated in the
future of Hong Kong well illustrates the sense of commitment and responsibility that all of us feel towards the people of
that territory.
2.
It is clear that noble Lords agree with me that this
a historic agreement. It is one of the most important
subjects we are likely to discuss in this House for some
time.
CONFIDENTIAL
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