CONFIDEN TIAL
of change in the structure
time designed
of
government in Hong Kong during this
to meet the rapidly changing needs of a society which
has undergone in 40 years the kind of development which took most
other societies well over a
century to achieve.
6.
ensure smooth
1997.
concern
clear.
We are committed to
In the Joint Liaison Group the Chinese side expressed s ome
on recent developments. Would like to make four things
transfer of government
in
a)
b)
c)
The first is that the United Kingdom is not abdicating and
will not abdicate its responsibility for Hong Kong.
the Hong Kong Government remain
maintaining both the prosperity and
The second is that HMG and
fully committed to
stability of Hong Kong.
June
The third is that as
the Secretary of State assured Mr. Wu
Xueqian in London in
we have been proceeding very
cautiously and carefully in deciding the modifications which
we have made over the last 18 months.
d)
7.
there
The British side recognisees the importance of achieving.
about reform
government
convergence
to
structure for
the
of ideas
Hong
Kong before 1997 and ideas of government strucutre of
SAR post-1997.
be should
We are accordingly very pleased that it has been agreed that informal dialogue between the two sides which we believe will be valuable in dispelling any misunderstanding on
points.
the se
8.
We
convince
him
trust that Mr Ji's visit will
of our
determination to keep Hong Kong prosperous and stable. Our public
than far sounder
those of most other countries.
finances
sound, are
We are continuing to build up the infrastructure of Hong Kong and
promote
to
financial
Hong Kong will have
its
as growth
a
manufacturing
centres, as a
centre, and
as
centre. a major communications
in
1997
an
even
better
road
system,
including
a
second harbour
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