[JH1AJJ]
HONG KONG: NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL
PROPOSED PASSAGE FOR INSERTION INTO THE HOME SECRETARY'S
OPENING SPEECH
We are confident
of the agreement and of
commitment of the parties to that agreement.
18.
the
It is not for me, and it is not for this debate, to
report to the House on general political developments over
Hong Kong. But it is relevant to our concerns today that these developments are
very positive. The Joint Liaison Group through which the British and Chinese Governments are
ation) discussing the implement of the Joint Declaration on Hong
Kong meets in
in an excellent atmosphere and already has solid
achievements to its credit. It has made arrangements
to assure the maintenance after 1997 of Hong Kong's
place in the world trading community and to facilitate
travel by Hong Kong people.
These achievements are
evidence of the determination of both parties to implement
the Joint Declaration fully and faithfully, with the
continued stability and prosperity of Hong Kong as their
overriding objective. And they have been welcomed in Hong
Kong, where confidence in the future is high.
19.
In the context of today's debate there are therefore
no grounds for me to say anything, or for the Government to commit itself to any action, which might imply doubts about
Hong Kong's future under the Joint Declaration. But I have already made clear, and I repeat again today