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WA TO START AGAIN, THEN THE OTHER SIDE WOULD UNDERSTANDABLY SEEK TO OBTAIN THE SAME RIGHT AND THE AGREEMENT WOULD NOT BE EVEN AN AGREEMENT WHICH COULD BE INITIALLED. SO BOTH SIDES WORK TOWARDS THE CONCLUSION OF AN AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE AND IT THEN HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING SO MUCH CARE TO CONSULT WITH HONG KONG, WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE, WITH EXCO, WITH MEMBERS OF LEGCO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT WHICH IS AN AGREEMENT WHICH · WHEN CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE, CAN BE HONORABLY COMMENDED TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. IT IS ON THAT BASIS THAT THE QUESTION WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. BUT IF EITHER SIDE WERE TO TRY AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO START AGAIN, THEN IT WOULD BE A MOST INCONCLUSIVE ARRANGEMENT. THAT IS NOT THE WAY WE WORK.
QUESTION: CON CHINESE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY AND FOR THE POLICE)
ANSWER: ON THE QUESTION THAT YOU RAISED, THAT IS OF COURSE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT ON WHICH IT IS PLAIN THAT DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS WOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHINA BUT THAT THE
· MATTERS YOU HAVE DISCUSSED AFFECTING INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND OBVIOUSLY THE POINT YOU HAVE RAISED ABOUT THE POSITION OF THOSE SERVING, NOT JUST IN THE POLICE BUT IN OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES, IS AN IMPORTANT ONE WE HAVE VERY MUCH IN MIND.
QUESTION: (IN EFFECT, WHAT GUARANTEE IS THERE THAT CHINESE POLICIES WILL CONTINUE?)
ANSWER: I THINK ONE OF THE FEATURES WHICH IS MOST NOTEWORTHY ABOUT THE POSITION OF CHINA AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS THE RESPECT WHICH IT SHOWS FOR INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO ACHIEVE A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF THE KIND THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED AND HAVE MADE SUCH IMPORTANT PROGRESS TOWARDS IT.
THAT AND THE PROSPECT OF INCREASING AND BOTH IN CHINA ITSELF AND ON THE FOOTING OF KONG,
THOSE ARE THE BEST ASSURANCES FOR THE OF A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.
QUESTION: (ON WRITTEN GUARANTEES)
ANSWER:
CONTINUED PROSPERITY, THIS AGREEMENT IN HONG FUTURE IN THE CONTEXT
HAVE YOU GOT ANY WRITTEN GUARANTEES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ANY NATION IN THE WORLD THAT FACES THE PROSPECT OF TWO OR THREE ELECTIONS IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS? THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE GUARANTEES THAT ANY STATESMAN OR ANY COMMENTATOR CAN GIVE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ANY KIND. BUT LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD CONDUCTING NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG, THE BEST ASSURANCES WE CAN GET ARE THE ASSURANCES THAT WILL BE CONTAINED IN THE BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT.
QUESTION: (ON THE POSSIBILITY OF HONG KONG REJECTING
AGREEMENT).
THE
OFFICE
ANSWER: OBVIOUSLY, THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE ASSESSMENT WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERING THE WHOLE RANGE OF HONG KONG OPINIONS FROM HONG KONG PEOPLE P FROM THE HONG KONG MEDIA TOGETHER, WILL BE A MATTER OF GREAT PARLIAMENT. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU
·
AND ASSESSING THEM IMPORTANCE FOR THE BRITISH ONCE AGAIN THAT THE OBJECTIVE TO