}
24-JAN-1993
17:44
PRIME MINI STER
JAMES LEE
0494536249
P.16
14
INTERVIEW
www
INDIA TV NEW DELHI
24 JAN 1993
- 15
PRIME MI NI STER:
We very much admire India's heritage and we are pleased to display
it.
INTERVIEWER:
Hong Kong has long been a British colony. What has prompted
Britain at this time, a few years prior to handing the colony back
to China, to accelerate the process of democratic reform?
PRIME MINI STER:
The lease on Hong Kong ends in 1997. We agreed with the Chinese
some time ago how we would act between now and 1997. We are
acting as we agreed under the Joint Declaration and in accordance
with the Basic Law.
INTERVIEWER:
Why has the process of democratic reform been accelerated at this
time and not 15/20 years ago?
PRIME MINI STER:
We are responding to the needs of people there and the requests of
You will have undoubtedly have seen the result of
people there.
the elections.
You will undoubtedly know what people say. You
will undoubtedly know of the agreement with China for what is
known as the "through train" to take democracy and a range of
other matters up to 1997 and through 1997.
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24-JAN-1993 17:45
PRIME MINISTER
JAMES LEE