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I know that there has been much unease in Hong Kong that the British and Chinese Governments have not yet been able to hold further talks on these important issues as agreed during the Governor's visit to Peking in October. The Governor has no pre-conditions for talks and is ready to take up these discussions at any time with Chinese
officials.
I have heard suggestions that we have changed our policy towards Hong Kong, and that we have joined some wider conspiracy against China. Both are flatly untrue. The whole world has an interest in China's continuing economic success and open door policy. Our policy remains the same. We never lose sight of the fact that cooperation between Britain and China is vital if Hong Kong is to continue to flourish.
In the swirl of debate, we should not miss some simple
points:
A society as mature and successful as Hong Kong deserves a system in which people have a greater say in the running of their own affairs. This is recognised in the Joint Declaration and the
Basic Law.
Whatever the detail of the electoral
arrangements finally decided by LegCo, the essential point is that elections should be open and fair and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. I know that members of LegCo will have this in mind as they examine all the legislative proposals put before them.
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