CONFIDENTIAL
2-
In our debate on 10 December there was I think general
acceptance that the agreement was a good one. In the Government's view it does indeed provide a satisfactory framework in which Hong Kong will be able to preserve its
economic system and way of life after 1 July 1997 as a
Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China.
Some Noble Lords quite rightly raised in the debate
concerns expressed by some people in Hong Kong about
certain aspects of the agreement. These concerns were
also fully documented in the Assessment Office report.
The Government have them firmly in view; we are and shall
continue to do our best to reassure those who are worried
about this or that aspect of the agreement; we shall also
continue to bear these concerns in mind in our future
discussions with the Chinese Government, particularly in
the Joint Liaison Group.
CONFIDENTIAL