DRAFT PRESS RELEASE: SPEECH TO SOCIETY OF CONSERVATIVE LAWYERS
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In a speech [today] to the Society of Conservative Lawyers, Foreign Office Minister Mr Francis Maude stressed that there is no reason to assume that China will not stand by here undertakings under the JD and that Hong Kong can look forward to a secure future after the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.
Commenting on the Basic Law recently promulgated by the Chinese, Mr Maude drew attention to the provisions for
-
style
a high degree of autonomy after 1997
maintenance of Hong Kong's social and economic systems and life
continuation of Hong Kong's status as an international
financial centre
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autonomy in external commercial and cultural relations.
China has
an
When asked what guarantee there was that these provisions would be fulfilled, Mr Maude pointed out that the Joint Declaration was international binding agreement, registered at the UN China had a good record of abiding by its international agreements. also reaffirmed its commitment to the JD on many occasions. It would not and could not be in China's interests to undermine the JD,
which was based on their own policy of "one country, two systems"
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