CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15100OZ FCO

TELNO 3438

OF 15074OZ SEPTEMBER 87

AND TO DESKBY 16010OZ PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

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063267

MDHIAN 2927 20

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PART ONE OF TWO PARTS

MIPT : GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO LEGCO

SECTIONS OF DRAFT REFERRED TO IN MIPT ARE AS FOLLOWS BEGINS

RELATIONS WITH CHINA

(A) INTRODUCTION

6. BEFORE REVIEWING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH INTIMATELY CONCERN US ALL, I SHOULD LIKE TO REFLECT ON OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA. OVER THE PAST DECADE, OUR LINKS WITH THE MAINLAND HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW AND DEVELOP IN EVERY FIELD. THEY HAVE BECOME AN INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF ALL OF US. THESE LINKS ARE IMPORTANT BOTH FOR THE FUTURE AND THE PRESENT. IN ADDITION TO THE MANY PERSONAL CONTACTS BETWEEN PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND PEOPLE IN THE MAINLAND, WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE

CONSULTATION OF OFFICIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANNELS FOR DISCUSSION, AND EXCHANGES OF IDEAS ON MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST. THESE CHANNELS HAVE FUNCTIONED WELL. THEY HAVE HELPED IN DEVELOPING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND IN SOLVING PRACTICAL PROBLEMS AS THEY ARISE.

I HAVE MYSELF RECENTLY RETURNED FROM PEKING, WHERE I HAVE CONTINUED THE PRACTICE OF MAINTAINING HIGH LEVEL CONTACT WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER SUCH EXCHANGES IN THE FUTURE.

(B) POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA

7. THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA IS OF COURSE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. THIS IS CONTINUING IN A STEADY AND SOUND WAY THAT PROVIDES CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE DETERMINATION OF BOTH SIDES TO IMPLEMENT FULLY THE TERMS OF

THE AGREEMENT.

(I) JOINT LIAISON GROUP

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CONFIDENTIAL

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