4. THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS THE RESULT OF COMMON
EFFORTS BY THE TWO SIDES. DURING THE TWO YEAR PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION
BOTH SIDES PAID ATTENTION TO LARGER CONSIDERATIONS, TOOK FULL ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG'S HISTORY AND PRESENT SITUATION, ADOPTED A SPIRIT OF FRIENDLY COOPERATION AND MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION AND UNDERSTANDING,
SOLVED SMOOTHLY A SERIES OF COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND FINALLY REACHED
A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT. IN THE LAST YEAR, OUR TWO SIDES HAVE CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE THIS COMMENDABLE. SPIRIT IN THEIR COOPERATION
TO IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION. THE FULL AND FAITHFUL IMPLE-
MENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IS THE COMMON RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE TWO SIDES AND IS ALSO FULLY IN ACCORD WITH THE LONG TERM INTEREST
S
OF THE TWO COUNTRIES. IN FUTURE YEARS, PROBLEMS OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHE
R
MAY PERHAPS EMERGE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARA
TION. BUT WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT AS LONG AS THE TWO SIDES CONTINUE TO ADOPT A SPIRIT OF FRIENDLY COOPERATION, DEAL WITH EACH OTHER IN GOOD FAITH AND WORK HARD TOGETHER, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY SOLVE IN AN APPROPRIATE FASHION ALL PROBLEMS FACING US, PRESERVE THE LONG TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, GUARANTEE A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF POWER IN 1997, AND COMPREHENSIVELY CARRY OUT THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. WE INTEND TO TRAVEL THE SAME ROAD AS OUR BRITISH FRIENDS AND TO WORK UNREMITTINGLY
TO REALISE OUR COMMON OBJECTIVES.
5. THE SATISFACTORY SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION HAS
OPENED BROAD PROSPECTS FOR FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN, AND OUR TWO COUNTRIES RELATIONS HAVE ENTERED
A NEW STAGE. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY HEARTENING IS THAT IN THE LAST
YEAR, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG'S VISIT TO YOUR COUNTR
Y
THIS YEAR, SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE SEEN NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON ALL FRONTS. IN THE COMING YEAR WE WILL BE VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN ON HER FIRST VISIT TO OUR COUNTRY AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO THE FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TO
W
COUNTRIES ADVANCING TO AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL.
CONFIDENTIAL
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