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WU XUEQIAN. IT IS THANKS TO THE IMAGINATION AND RESOURCE WHICH
THEY SHOWED THAT WE CAN SIGN AN AGREEMENT TODAY.
5. THE AGREEMENT FULLY MEETS THE POLITICAL REQUIREMENTS OF
BRITAIN AND CHINA, AS WELL AS THE INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG
PEOPLE. IT PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH, AS A SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HONG
KONG WILL MAINTAIN ITS ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND WAY OF LIFE FOR 50
YEARS AFTER THE FIRST OF JULY 1997. IT GIVES HONG KONG A HIGH
DEGREE OF AUTONOMY: HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL ADMINISTER HONG KONG
AND THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL PASS ITS OWN
LEGISLATION. IT ALLOWS HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO DECIDE ITS OWN
ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TRADE POLICIES AND TO PARTICIPATE AS
APPROPRIATE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND AGREEMENTS. IT
PRESERVES HONG KONG'S FAMILIAR LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE RIGHTS AND
FREEDOMS ENJOYED THERE. IN SHORT IT PROVIDES THE ASSURANCES FOR
THE FUTURE WHICH HONG KONG NEEDS, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO PLAY
ITS UNIQUE ROLE IN THE WORLD AS A TRADING AND FINANCIAL CENTRE.
6. THESE QUALITIES HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED IN THE AGREEMENT BY THE
BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF CHINA,
WHICH HAVE APPROVED THE INTENTION OF OUR GOVERNMENTS TO PROCEED
TO SIGNATURE. THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A THOROUGH
PUBLIC DEBATE AMONG THOSE WHOSE FUTURE IT WILL DETERMINE THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE EXPRESSED SOME
RESERVATIONS AND SOUGHT CLARIFICATION ON PARTICULAR POINTS, THEY
HAVE CLEARLY JUDGED IT ACCEPTABLE TO THEM AS A WHOLE. THE
AGREEMENT HAS BEEN WIDELY PRAISED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS,
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND IN FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC
CIRCLES. THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS HAS
DESCRIBED IT AS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WAY IN
WHICH DIFFICULT INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY
RESOLVED. INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AND SUPPORT WILL BE VITAL FOR
HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE
FORTHCOMING.
IN
7. I SHOULD LIKE TO PAY A TRIBUTE TO THE LEADERS OF CHINA FOR
THE VISION AND FARSIGHTEDNESS OF THEIR APPROACH TO THE
NEGOTIATIONS. THE CONCEPT OF 'ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'
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