17. No survey, however selective, of British achievements in the
international arena over the last decade could overlook the
Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. I tried
to convey the scale of what has been achieved in Hong Kong when I gave evidence recently to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. The British Government remains fully committed to the implementation of the Joint Declaration. There is no question
of it being relegated to history as some have suggested. The Joint
Declaration was based on the realities of Hong Kong's geographical
and historical position, starting from the fact that 92% of the territory was due to revert to China by treaty in 1997 without any
safeguards. The conclusion of an internationally binding agreement providing for the continuation of Hong Kong's capitalist system and way of life for at least 50 years and safeguarding its basic rights
and freedoms was therefore a major achievement. triumph for common sense, based on the recognition by all involved that they have everything to gain by allowing Hong Kong to continue
to flourish as one of the most dynamic and thriving trade centres in the world. As always, common sense means giving people freedom. The Joint Declaration provides for the steady development of representative government up to and after 1997. The principle of
universal suffrage is now enshrined in the draft Basic Law be ing
drafted by the Chinese.
It was also a
18. Common sense and freedom are the key elements of the pragmatic
philosophy which we promote wherever we have dealings around the
world. This is the message I would leave with the readers of "Revue
des Deux Mondes".