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BOUND TO ASK WHETHER WE COULD SECURE A REAL THROUGH TRAIN. THERE WAS NONE AT THE MOMENT. SO ANYTHING WE AGREED WITH CHINA MUST NOT ONLY BE OPEN, FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT MUST ALSO ENSURE A REAL THROUGH TRAIN. THIS POINT ALONE UNDERLINED THE FACT THAT WE WERE NOW ENGAGED ON A FAR MORE DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING THAN SIMPLY PUTTING THE LEGISLATION TO LEGCO AND ASKING THEM TO DECIDE. SAYING NO TO TALKS WAS NOT HOWEVER AN OPTION.
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