CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
HKK 040/12.
28 MAY 1985
118
GRS 450
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING 220856Z MAY 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 789 OF 22 MAY.
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Tor
YOUR TELNO
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RATIFICATION
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1. THE FOLLOWING IS THE DRAFT OF MY SPEECH FOR DELIVERY AT THE
CEREMONY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION ON 27 MAY:
7
1. YOUR EXCELLENCY THE VICE MINISTER, WE HAVE JUST EXCHANGED THE
INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION OF OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS OF THE JOINT
DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. THIS EXCHANGE SIGNIFIES
THE COMPLETION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LEGAL PROCESS NECESSARY
TO ALLOW THE JOINT DECLARATION TO ENTER INTO FORCE. THE TERMS OF
THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR
HONG KONG TO CONTINE TO ENJOY STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, BOTH
BEFORE 1997 AND THEREAFTER AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
2=
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA IN NEGOTIATING
THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS BEEN WIDELY WELCOMED INTERNATIONALLYC:
BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF MANY COUNTRIES AND BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL
OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THIS IS MOST ENCOURAGING. IT IS ENCOURAGING
IN ITSELF SEMICLN AND IT IS ENCOURAGING BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF
HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE.
3. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL ABIDE STRICTLY BY THE TERMS OF
THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS
CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL DO LIKEWISE.
4. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT LOOKS FORWARD TO COOPERATING CLOSELY WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH 5 OF
THE JOINT DECLARATION.
CONFIDENTIAL
15. AS
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