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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 060001Z SINGAPORE
TELNO 139
OF 051739Z JULY 93
AND TO DESKBY 06003OZ HONG KONG
INFO DESKBY 06003OZ PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
72
032267
MDHOAN 5168
Plw
int sup (Sing).
FOLLOWING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH
·
1 You commissioned 3 or 4 paragraphs on Hong Kong for a speech which the Secretary of State is making in the late afternoon Singapore time on 6 July. We suggest the following points covering the ground you indicated:
"'- Let me also say a word about another small dynamic Asian economy, often bracketed with Singapore.
We have
First to
Second,
There are now just 4 years left before the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China. serious responsibilities, which we take seriously. administer Hong Kong effectively over the next 4 years. to cooperate with China to ensure a smooth transition and continuing success for Hong Kong beyond 1997. reasons for Hong Kong's remarkable development. summed up as a combination of the qualities of its people helped by sound administration and rule of law.
G
There are many
But they can be
- The Joint Declaration between Britain and China provides detailed assurances about the continuity of Hong Kong's way of Life
after 1 July 1997. But it did not it could not lay down a full blueprint. Hong Kong, like other societies, is constantly evolving. With economic development has come political development. And the political side of Hong Kong has been much in the headlines over the last
the last year.
- Soon after Chris Patten arrived in Hong Kong he concluded with the full support of the British Cabinet - that we should meet the wishes of the Hong Kong people for further modest steps
Our aim is a set forward in Hong Kong's political development.
of arrangements for the last elections under British sovereignty which are fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
1
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