GRS 850
UNCLASSIFIED
DESK BY 1913OOZ
FROM PEKING 191255Z DEC 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3040 OF 19 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KOMG (DESKBY 19100OZ)
(457
RECEIVED
HKK 040/57. 20DEC1984 Y
MY 2 IPTS: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT:
SIGNATURE CEREMONY.
TEXT OF ZHAO'S STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER MARGARATE THATCHER, THE RT HON FOREIGN SECRETARY SIR GEOFFERY HOWE, DISTINGUISHED BRITISH GUESTS, FRIENDS AND COMRADES,
I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE FORMALLY SIGNED WITH PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER, ON BEHALF OF OUR RESPECTIVE
OF THE GOVERNMENTS, THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNMENT UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A TASK OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. FOR THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER, OUR OTHER BRITISH FRIENDS AND THE HONG KONG PERSONAGES FROM VARIOUS CIRCLES WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THIS SIGNING CEREMONY.
THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG HAS SATISFACTORILY SETTLED CHINA'S RESUMPTION OF EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG AND
LAID A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG. OUR AGREEMENT PROVIDES FRESH EXPERIENCE FOR THE SOLUTION THROUGH PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS OF PROBLEMS BETWEEN NATIONS THAT ARE LEFT OVER FROM HISTORY. IT HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FROM ALL THE CHINESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE FIVE MILLION COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG, AND THE BRITISH PEOPLE. IT HAS ALSO WON WIDESPREAD ACCLAIM AND WELCOME FROM MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IS THE RESULT OF THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF OUR TWO COUNTIRES. IN THE COURSE OF THE TALKS OVER TWO YEARS, BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE SHOWN REGARD FOR LARGER INTERESTS, TAKEN HONG KONG'S HISTORY AND REALITIES INTO ACCOUNT, AND DISPLAYED A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND FRIENDLY COOPERATION. HERE, I DEEM IT NECESSARY TO MENTION IN PARTICULAR THE VISION AND STATESMANSHIP OF PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER.
SHE HAS MADE A SIGNIFIACNT AND PRAISE-WORACCLLCONTRIBUTION
TO THE SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION.
I ALSO WISH TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO FOREIGN SECRETARY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, WHO TOOK THE TROUBLE TO MAKE TWO VISITS TO BEIJING,
AND TO ALL THE OTHER BRITISH FRIENDS AND MY CHINESE COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE WORKED HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS.