99
175.
Chinese
Alas,
we have
still
officials
not succeeded in convincing
that Hong Kong's extraordinarily modest
aspirations for political development are legitimate, that
they deserve to be met, that they are part of the natural
evolution of
society; and that
an
increasingly
mature
and
sophisticated
they are in a sense a condition of our
continuing
success
as
great
international
trading
community.
These aspirations pose no threat to China now
nor in
indeed the concept of "one country, the future;
systems" should accommodate them comfortably.
two
176.
The argument,
we
should
-
as I have said, is not about whether
accelerate the
of democracy in Hong Kong,
though many of you think perhaps understandably
pace
that it
should be.
towards
democracy
should be
credible,
The argument is about whether the agreed steps
should be real, or
should be sham.
177.
In order to try to win agreement, we have as you
will have observed been prepared to make substantial
in
our
talks
with
China to
take account of Chinese
concerns.
movement on the Chinese side.
far So
I cannot
honestly point to any real
178.
We
will
agreement.
We
accord that meets
the concerns of both sides.
But we
are
go on
as working
believe it should be possible to reach an
hard as we
can for an