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B:
EFFECT OF RECENT EVENTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT DECLARATION
SHOULD WE SCRAP THE JOINT DECLARATION?
Basic position remains now as it was when Joint Declaration was signed. Fact remains that Hong Kong sits on the coastline of China. 92% of Hong Kong is due to revert to China when lease expires in 1997. Question is whether Hong Kong reverts to China with an agreement or without one. Government believed at time we signed Joint Declaration it was better it should happen with an agreement.
That remains our view.
Destiny of Hong Kong inevitably bound up with destiny of China. This is historical and geographical reality. Any viable future for Hong Kong must depend on successful and secure coexistence with China. That objective enshrined in Joint Declaration.
Joint Declaration is a remarkably good agreement. Spells out kind of future we want for Hong Kong ie preservation of Hong Kong's capitalist system, links with outside world and basic freedoms for at least 50 years. Absolutely nothing to be said for scrapping it. What we have got to do is to hold China to its obligations to implement Joint Declaration in full.
I made clear to Chinese Charge d'Affaires on 5 June that confidence in Hong Kong had taken a severe jolt and that we looked to Chinese Government to restore that confidence. Chinese Charge reaffirmed China's continuing commitment to Joint Declaration. Governor has also underlined this point to Director of New China News Agency in Hong Kong.
Remains in China's long term economic and political interests for Hong Kong to continue to be stable and prosperous. Economie links betree Churin and Homy Key even stronger
Homy Key even stronger.com then at time
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