03-SEP-1991 07:08
JAMES LEE
-
MEMORANDUM OF
PREMIER LI PENG/PRIME MINISTER MAJOR
UNDERSTANDING PEKING - 3 SEP 91 2
P.03
in the past, continue to earnestly abide by and fully implement
the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the question of Hong Kong
and is committed to closer consultation and cooperation with the
United Kingdom on that basis. We are convinced that in the
second half of the transitional period of Hong Kong, as long as
our two sides enhance mutual trust, consult fully with each other
in a spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation and
intensify cooperation in compliance with the spirit and provisions
of the Joint Declaration, the smooth transfer of government in
Hong Kong in 1997 can be fully guaranteed and the prosperity and
stability of Hong Kong truly maintained. In this regard, the
Chinese and the British sides share a common interest. We have
every reason to be fully confident of the prosperity and stability
of Hong Kong.
The Chinese Government always attaches importance to long-term
stable relations of friendship and cooperation with the United
Kingdom. True, the two countries are different in social system,
history, culture, heritage and values but these differences should
not become obstacles to the development of our bilateral
relations; recognising and respecting them and striving to seek
common ground while putting aside the differences, we can be
friends. We believe that there exists a solid foundation for
maintaining and developing good relations between our two
countries. Hong Kong is one question that binds us together.
Both China and the United Kingdom are Permanent Members of the UN
Security Council with major responsibilities in international