SECRET
integral whole and Her Majesty's Government is satisfied that there is no possibility of dividing the New Territories which revert to
China on 1 July 1997 from the remainder. The choice is therefore
between reversion of Hong Kong to China under agreed, legally binding international arrangements or reversion to China without
such arrangements. This is not a choice which Her Majesty's
Government have sought to impose on the people of Hong Kong. It is
a choice imposed by the facts of Hong Kong's history.
30. Her Majesty's Government believe that the agreement is a good
one.
They strongly commend it to the people of Hong Kong and to
Parliament. It provides a framework to preserve Hong Kong's unique
economic system and way of life as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China from 1 July 1997. The Agreement preserves Hong Kong's familiar legal system and the body of laws in force in Hong Kong, including the common law. The agreement gives Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy in which it will be able to administer itself and pass its own legislation. It will enable Hong Kong to continue to decide on its own economic financial and trade policies, and to participate in international organisations and trade agreements such as GATT. Her Majesty's Government are confident that the agreement provides the necessary assurances about Hong Kong's future to allow the territory to continue to flourish and to maintain its unique position in the world.
SECRET