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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1848
OF 070835Z DECEMBER 93
4K5012.13
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
ГОР COPY Q DIST?
Transfer of Sovereignty: Legco Question (15 December)
Ms. Emily Lau will ask the following oral question at the Legco sitting on 15 December :
"Is the Government aware that the public reactions of the Chinese Government during the disputes over Hong Kong's political arrangements and other issues in recent years have been perceived by the majority of Hong Kong people as revealing an intransigent and autocratic attitude on the part of the Chinese Government towards Hong Kong's best interests, which has dealt a severe blow to public confidence in Hong Kong's future; and has the Government accordingly conveyed to the British Government that it is now both urgent and essential that the British Government publicly explain to Hong Kong people how it can feel justified in continuing with its intention to hand them over to the new sovereign regime?"
2. We propose to reply as follows :
"Mr President,
The Joint Declaration, under which Hong Kong will on 1 July 1997 become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy, with its capitalist system and way of Life preserved, and the basic rights and freedoms of its citizens protected, is the best guarantee there are of the continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under Chinese sovereignty. It deserves all our support, and our whole- hearted efforts of implement fully and faithfully
(2). The Joint Declaration is a binding international agreement, registered with the United Nations. The British Government is fully committed to it; the Chinese Government have repeatedly stated that they are committed to its full implementation.
(3).
The British Government and the Hong Kong Government are, of
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