Hong Kong in order to ensure the maintenance and preservation of its economic prosperity and social
stability. I have emphasised prosperity in my comments
today, because stability cannot be relied upon should prosperity fail.
This has been one of the key principles in our approach to
political decisions in the transition to 1997. Much has
been said about the 'smooth transition'. The ideal is to
achieve a comfortable, undramatic transfer of power to the
Government of the HKSAR without trauma and with all Hong
Kong's institutions, social, political, judicial and
economic systems intact and functioning at full strength.
We are certainly working to make that transition as smooth as possible. Let noone be under any illusion. We do not intend to give way on everything simply to achieve
convergence. We have been willing to stand up for Hong
Kong's interests in the past and will do so again when necessary. Hong Kong has to change and grow. The key thing is that these should be as little disruption as possible in
1997.
the agremet
resched
wit
China
Court of Final Appeal
It is important to have a good working relationship with
China and that is what we have been working to rebuild. reaching agreement in diplomatic negotiations is not synonymous with kowtow.
Which brings me to the British Chamber's letter about the Court of Fial Appeal. I was grateful for your views. You
But
I have replied fully to your
letter I
suggested that the agreement reached with the Chinese in the toke
Joint Liaison Group on the membership of the Court of Final Appeal contravenes the Basic Law and the Joint Declaration. We do not accept this view. We are satisfied that is consistent with both the Joint Declaration and the Basic
Law.
Futhermore we believe that early establishment of the
JM1ABU/4
SLM
should just
the
loppertunity
point.
"here of Sterling a few