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guaranteed, but he could not confirm that the political situation would remain unchanged since that would affect the Chinese position. The Covernor said that what he proposed did not affect the Chinese position. Deng Xiaoping said good. The Governor said he had many potential investors who were concerned not about the CPG's attitude but about the date of the lease. He wanted no date. Deng Xiaoping declared that the Chinese position would not affect the interests of investors. To put it more clearly, in this century and in the beginning of the next century (this was originally translated as "in the next century") Hong Kong would be continuing with a capitalist system, while China was continuing with a socialist system. By 1997 China might take over Hong Kong. But this would not affect her economy. They had not taken over liacao so far. There were two solutions by 1997, to take Hong Kong over, or to allow present realities to remain. Whatever political solution was adopted, investors would not be affected. The Governor said that what he proposed to do would not affect the Chinese position. All China needed to do was to acquiesce, or not to object. But he had to do something over the next year or two, if investment was to continue to come in. Deng Xiaoping said there would be nothing for the Chinese to do, and Cui Mingtang intervened that the UK only wished to abolish the 1997 date on the leases. Deng Xiaoping concluded that the key point was that investors should feel easy.
11. The meeting then closed with courtesies at 11am.
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