anxious that other countries may not accept the new British
passports after 1997. The British Government regards it as
part of its continuing responsibility for Hong Kong to explain
to all the countries concerned that there will be no
justification for imposing new restrictions on the freedom of
entry of Hong Kong people holding the new form of passport,
and I believe we shall receive the necessary cooperation.
Indeed, I am very struck by the warm international reception
which has been given to this Agreement.
its importance.
Another concern is the basic law, I fully agree about
The terms of the Agreement stipulate that the
very full and detailed provisions in the Joint Declaration and
its First Annex will be embodied in the basic law. Ny
discussions in Peking have confirmed that the Chinese Government
are fully aware of the importance of the basic law and of the
concern in Hong Kong that people here should be consulted
about it.
Premier Zhao Ziyang told me that in the drafting
of the basic law the views of Hong Kong people will be
solicited on a wide basis and that the basic law would be
drafted and promulgated not later than 1990.
Until 1997,
Britain remains fully responsible for the administration of
Hong Kong. We feel, as we have always felt, a deep commitment
to the people of the Territory, and now that the Agreement is
signed I pledge Her Majesty's Government's earnest efforts in
the years to 1997 to ensure that、 Hong Kong continues to
have a stable and responsive Government administering the
Territory in accordance with the interests and the wishes of