CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEF NO 3: MEETING WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EXCO)
DRAFT OPENING STATEMENT
i. MAY I BEGIN BY SAYING HOW GLAD I AM TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU THIS MORNING. THIS IS MY FIRST VISIT TO HONG KONG AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR LESS THAN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS: BUT I HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENORMOUSLY IMPRESSED BY WHAT I HAVE SEEN. INITIATIVE FLOURISHES; LIVING STANDARDS ARE RISING AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS STEADILY IMPROVING. I KNOW HOW DEEPLY INDEBTED THE GOVERNOR AND HIS OFFICIALS ARE TO YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE WHEN FRAMING THE POLICIES THAT
HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
2. IN PARTICULAR YOUR COUNCIL HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PLANNING FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE. THE GOVERNMENT IN LONDON HAVE RELIED HEAVILY ON YOUR ADVICE, FIRST DURING THE NEGOTIATION LEADING UP TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND NOW IN THE COMPLEX TASK OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION. I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS
DIALOGUE IN THE SENSITIVE MONTHS AHEAD.
3. BUT IMMEDIATELY I WOULD LIKE TO TO REAFFIRM HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND ITS FUTURE. SECURING A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR HONG KONG ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINS A KEY PRIORITY OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY. THE PRIME MINISTER, AS THE SIGNATORY OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, IS PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO IT. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE FOLLOWS DEVELOPMENTS VERY CLOSELY INDEED. PARLIAMENTARIANS OF ALL PARTIES AND BOTH HOUSES TAKE A KEEN INTEREST IN HONG KONG. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON IS ENERGETIC IN KEEPING THEM
INFORMED.
4. BOTH FOR YOU AND FOR US IN LONDON THE DOMINATING ISSUE AT
I AM PRESENT IS OBVIOUSLY THE REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MEMBERS' VIEWS ON THE WAY AHEAD ONCE THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION HAS ENDED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING THEIR OPINIONS IN LARGE NUMBERS. WE AKE ALSO VERY WELL AWARE OF THE VIEWS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, IN
/PARTICULAR
CONFIDENTIAL ENTIAL