I took particular care to ensure that my proposals were fully
in line with both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law,
China's mini-constitution for Hong Kong post-1997.
Sadly China has so far chosen not to put forward any
alternative ideas or constructive suggestions, but has
concentrated instead on piling on the abuse, most of it on my
head. In recent weeks I have been called everything from a
sly lawyer to the stinking garbage of colonial history and
all this because I happen to believe that the 1995 elections
should be run cleanly and fairly.
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In the final four years of our colonial history, we must
ensure that we do everything we can to ensure that the Joint
Declaration is fully implemented. The Joint Declaration is
not just a frill behind which Britain can retire with a modicum of dignity in 1997. It is a serious document, an international Treaty registered at the United Nations, and it means what it says. It is a necessary but not sufficient condition for Hong Kong's continued prosperity and stability
in the future. I have no doubt that we will be judged by how
well we implement it. That's why we owe it to the people of
Hong Kong to stick to our task, even at the expense of
name-calling from Peking.
sundayexpress.art JM PERS