FOREWORD
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1991 was an important and eventful year for Hong Kong. Two major achievements stand out.
First, we secured Chinese support for the new Airport
project. Negotiations were strenuous and sometimes difficult. I went to Peking in April to try to improve our cooperation with China over Hong Kong but at that stage it was not possible to agree acceptable terms for an airport
agreement. After further rounds of talks, we were able to
publish in July a Memorandum of
Understanding, which the Prime Minister signed on 3 September during his visit to Peking.
This is a good
Agreement. It puts in place workable arrangements for consultation with China, while leaving decision-making where
it belongs, with the Hong Kong Government. A new airport is urgently needed if Hong Kong is to keep its place as a dynamic regional centre. Work is now moving ahead fast, with the aim of completing the project as far as possible by
1997. Since the signing of the MOU, cooperation with China
on airport matters has been smooth. The result has been a
welcome impetus to business confidence in Hong Kong, going well beyond the Airport Project.
The Prime Minister also secured agreement in principle
during his visit to Peking to more effective Sino- British
cooperation on other Hong Kong matters. In particular, we
have agreed to accelerate the work of the Sino-British Joint
Liaison Group, in order to ensure a smooth transfer of sovereignty in 1997. The Chinese agreed to my proposal for six-monthly meetings of Foreign Ministers to review and,
where necessary, stimulate progress. We now look to the
Chinese side to join us in translating these undertakings
into practical results in the Joint Liaison Group.
The second landmark of 1991 was the holding in September of
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