1992-12-04 18:51 COMMS OFFICE (GOVT HOUSE)
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DURING MY FOUR DAYS IN CANADA I MET MANY HONG KONG CANADIANS.
I WAS DREPLY IMPRESSED BY THE ADMIRATION AND GOODWILL THAT I FOUND FOR
HONG KONG, AND FOR ITS PEOPLE, AND I SHOULD LIKE
SHOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY, PUBLICLY, TO THANK THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR THE VERY
WARM RECEPTION WHICH THEY EXTENDED.
I VISITED LONDON FROM THE 16TH-20TH NOVEMBER, WHERE I HAD
MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND OTHER
MINISTERS AS WELL AS WITH OFFICIALS. I ALSO SPOKE AT A VERY
SUCCESSFUL TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL DINNER, ADDRESSED THE BRITISH
HONG KONG
KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, AND HAD
HAD MEETINGS WITH OTHER
PARLIAMENTARIANS AND WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS ON THE POLICY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS,
WHICH WAS
SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION OF 1984. THAT POLICY WAS REAFFIRMED
IN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S MANIFESTO EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN CASE
THERE SHOULD BE ANY DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF ANYONE IN THIS COUNCIL, OR
OUTSIDE IT, LET ME CLEARLY STATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT STANDS FOURSQUARE BEHIND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S
PROPOSALS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG AND WILL CONTINUE
TO DO SO. BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY REPEATED
THAT SUPPORT PUBLICLY AND EXPLICITLY DURING MY VISIT.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RESOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS
SHOULD BE FAIR, SHOULD BE OPEN, AND SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
OF HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RESOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT'S FIRM CONVICTION THAT OUR PROPOSALS ARE FAIR AND
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