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BRIEFING FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE
DRAFT CONTRIBUTION ON HONG KONG
In the wake
the Hong Kong agreement, signed by the Prime Minister in Peking in December, there is every indication that Hong Kong's economy, having borne the
the uncertainties of the past two years with resilience, is expanding again. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange index has risen over 500 points in the past six months. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary in his budget for 1985/86 has forecast growth in GDP of 7%, and a growth in exports of 18%.
Kong
Following approval by the Legislative Council of the Hong Government's proposals in its White Paper on the Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong, the first ever elections
choose 24 of the Hong Kong Legislative Council's 56 members scheduled to take place in September. This will be an important step in the development
more representative system of government in the territory.
to
I believe that Hong Kong can
prosperity with confidence.
of a
are
now look to a future of stability and
I know that this is also the wish of
the Chinese Government with whom we shall be consulting on the implementation of the
of the agreement in the Joint Liaison Group to be set up after ratification.
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