CONFIDENTIAL
FUTURE EGRET
3923 - 1
HONG KONG'S MAJOR TRADE PARTNERS HAVE ALREADY STATED THEIR
APPRECIATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND HAVE IN MANY CASES PLEDGED TO
ASSIST IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
10. THE AGREEMENT PERMITS ALL THE ESSENTIALS WHICH SUPPORT
HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP TO BE
PRESERVED:
-
HONG KONG'S FREEDOM TO PURSUE ITS OWN ECONOMIC POLICIES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ITS OWN NEEDS:
-
THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, FREE TRADE POLICIES AND THE FREE
PORT:
HONG KONG'S SEPARATE POSITION WITHIN THE GATT AND OTHER
MULTILATERAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS: AND ITS FREEDOM TO DEVELOP ITS
OWN ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WITH ALL STATES AND REGIONS:
A FREELY CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY:
-
- THE RIGHT TO PURSUE PRUDENT BUDGETARY POLICIES DETERMINED BY
HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG'S OWN NEEDS:
-
THE RIGHT OF COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO OWN AND DISPOSE OF
PROPERTY: AND THE PROTECTION OF THESE RIGHTS IN LAW:
-
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN ECONOMIC MATTERS, ESPECIALLY
FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF OCCUPATION.
11. I CAN ASSURE HONG KONG'S PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD THAT THE
FREE AND DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS ATTRACTED THEM IN
SUCH LARGE NUMBERS FOR SO MANY YEARS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH.
HONG KONG IS A GOING CONCERN. IT IS VERY MUCH IN BUSINESS. AND
IT WILL REMAIN SO, INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
12. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL DEVOTE ITS FULL DIPLOMATIC
RESOURCES TO ENSURING THT HONG KONG'S POSITION IN THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR IN GATT AND OTHER TRADING
ARRANGEMENTS, IS MAINTAINED. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT WILL DO LIKEWISE.
13. WE COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED SUCH A GOOD AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE
SUPPORT AND ADVICE OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. I SHOULD LIKE TO
PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE FIRMNESS OF HIS LEADERSHIP
AND THE WISDOM OF HIS ADVICE. THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE THROUGHOUT THIS
DIFFICULT PERIOD IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY. THE ADVICE OFFERED BY
CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET