GRS 800
UNCLASSIFIED
DESKBY 19160OZ FCO
DESKBY 20003OZ HONG KONG
FROM PEKING 191545Z DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2043 OF 19/12/34
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HICK
RECEIVE
461).
040/57.
20 DEC 1984
IND.
TOP COXY
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: BANQUET
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF ZHAO'S SPEECH AT THE BANQUET:
THE RT. HON. PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER,
THE RT. HON. FOREIGN SECRETARY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE,
DISTINGUISHED BRITISH GUESTS,
FRIENDS AND COMRADES,
TONIGHT, I AM PRIVILEGED TO EXTEND, ON BEHALF OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE, OUR CORDIAL AND WARM WELCOME TO PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER AND HER PARTY. THE RT. HON. PRIME MINISTER HAS COME TO SIGN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG AND PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WELCOME TO THE PERSONAGES FROM VARIOUS CIRCLES IN HONG KONG WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO OBSERVE THE SIGNING CEREMONY IN BEIJING.
THE RT. HON. PRIME MINISTER IS AN OUTSTANDING STATESMAN OF GREAT BRITAIN AND AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND FRCEND OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE.
TWO YEARS AGO, YOUR EXCELLENCY PAID YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL WISIT TO
CHINA AS THE PRIM EMINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE LEADERS
OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES AGREED THEN TO HOLD FRIENDLY TALKS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. IT IS HIGHLY MEANINGFUL FOR US TO MEET AGAIN TODAY, ON THIS JOYOUS OCCASION WHEN THE CHINESE
AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED ON AND FORMALLY SIGNED THE
JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, AND HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO GREAT COUNTRIES, LOOK AHEAD TO THEIR BROAD PROSPECTS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES OF MUTUAL
CONCERN.
THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNEMENTS HAVE SETTELES THE HONG KONG QUESTION, A LEGACY OF HISTORY, THROUGH PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS. THIS IS A SUCCESS OF SINO-BRITISH FRIENDLY COOPERATION,
AND A RICH REWARD FOR THE HISTORIC POLICY DECISION MADE BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WHO SHOWED GREAT FORESIGHT
AND REGARD FOR LARGER INTERESTS AND THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF
THE TWO PEOPLES. WE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE OUTSTANDING
STATEMANSHIP OF PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER AND HER IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS. THE
SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION HAS NOT
ONLY LAID A RELIABLE FOUNDATION FOR THE LONG TERM PROSPERITY
AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG BUT ALSO PROVIED USEFUL
EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF ISSUES BETWEEN STATES
/ LEFT