FROM HONG KONG BILL UNIT
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Fourth Draft. 19/4 1130.
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04.19.1990 11:10
Langdon m- Hammond
MY MONIS mrs Grimsey Mr. Aage mr stad len mr moorey
NO. 2 P
mr kinney
mr
Taylor Ps / Foreign Sec
Ps/mr mande.
4th Draft
356
میں
20/4
(amenîmento bi Brodo
HOME SECRETARY'S SPEECH FOR SECOND READING OF
BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) BILL
HND 340/4
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
0 1 JUN 1990
FICER
REGISTRY
19 APRIL 1990
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PS
psy than thande for Grill mame the Park Mr Lidigion
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I hardly need wind the House that although since the Second
World War Britain has granted independence to many former
colonies, rarely have we had to make plans for the handing over.
of a territory to a foreign power, and never to a Communist one.
And I certainly haven't to remind the House that the remarkable
story of Hong Kong's economic success is one in which our own
country has been and is intimately involved. Quite apart from
what many, if not most, of us might regard as our moral duty to
maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong up to 1997 and
to secure a smooth changeover in that year, Britain has an
enormous stake, in terms of trade, investment and jobs, in Hong
Kong's continuing success. This is a case, if ever there was
one, where duty and the national interest march hand in hand.
Of course, what happens after 1997 will be largely in the hands
of the Chinese Government. But it is with Britain that
responsibility for Hong Kong rests over the next seven years.
We have to do our best to see
our best to see that so long as we remain
responsible for the Territory, its prosperity and stability are
maintained. That is what this Bill is about: and I would
1.