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exchange
of
proliferated.
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visits.
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JJZ J UHJ 02/2
Private
sector links
have
Is this broadening and deepening of contacts
with China a good or bad thing for Hong Kong? Surely these are healthy and natural developments towards the time when local people will assume full responsibility for managing
Hong Kong's relationship with China.
The development of strong. mutually beneficial
links between Hong Kong and Ching is at least as important as the other great change in our relationship, which tends to command more media attention. I am talking of course
about the Joint Declaration.
The provisions of the Joint Declaration reflect the Importance to China as well as to Hong Kong that the of the two should be maintained. "One
separateness
country,
two
H
systems' is not just O catchphrase, it
Maintaining o
represents on important political reality. high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong is crucial to the continuing prosperity of Hong Kong and crucial in ensuring that Hong Kong can play its part in contributing to the growing prosperity of the mainland. The Joint Declaration heralds a most important change - the change of sovereignty in 1997 - but the bulk of the document is about continuity
continuing our present institutions and way of life.