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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984
+ I BELIEVE THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS SHARE A DESIRE TO SEE THE CONTINUATION IN HONG KONG OF A SOCIETY WHICH ENJOYS ITS OWN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS AND DISTINCT WAY OF LIFE, AND WHICH OFFERS A SERVICE TO THE WORLD AS AN INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE. AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND, IT IS POSSIBLE TO FORESEE A SITUATION IN WHICH HONG KONG WOULD, AS PART OF CHINA, ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. IN SUCH A SITUATION THAT AUTONOMY WOULD EXTEND TO ADMINISTRATION, THE MAKING OF LAWS, THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S OWN FAMILIAR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ORDER IN THE TERRITORY. UNDER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE WRITTEN AND COMMON LAW, WOULD BE BASED UPON THE PRESENT SYSTEM EXISTING FREEDOMS WOULD BE MAINTAINED - FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY ARREST, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, ASSEMBLY AND SPEECH, FREEDOM OF TRAVEL, AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. HONG KONG WOULD MANAGE ITS OWN PUBLIC FINANCES, WITHIN WHICH TAXES LEVIED IN HONG KONG WOULD, AS NOW, BE EMPLOYED IN HONG KONG FOR THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. AND, UNDER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, HONG KONG'S EXTENSIVE AND DIRECT ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE WORLD WOULD CONTINUE. HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN AN IMPORTANT PARTICIPANT IN REGIONAL AND WORLD ECONOMIC ORGANISATIONS. AND THERE WOULD BE A PLACE FOR OUTSIDE PEOPLE, FROM BRITAIN AND ELSEWHERE, TO GO ON MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO LIFE IN HONG KONG. HONG KONG WOULD MAINTAIN ITS CULTURAL LIFE AND LINKS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
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+THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR PUBLICLY THAT THEY SEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG, AFTER 1997. AS BEING IN THE HANDS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THIS WOULD FOLLOW A PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH I AM GLAD TO SAY IS ALREADY UNDER WAY, AND WHICH I EXPECT TO EVOLVE FURTHER. DURING THE YEARS' IMMEDIATELY AHEAD, THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WILL BE DEVELOPED ON INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE LINES.
+I RECOGNISE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROSPECT OF CHANGE CAUSES REAL CONCERN. MY CONTACTS HERE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE BORNE THIS IN UPON ME VERY CLEARLY. IT IS NATURAL THAT PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD. WE LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THOSE VIEWS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS HAVE CONVINCED ME THAT THEY WANT THE HONG KONG SYSTEMS TO REMAIN FUNDAMENTALLY AS THEY ARE. WE HAVE STRESSED ALL ALONG THE NEED FOR FIRM ASSURANCE THAT ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY BASED ON EFFECTIVE AUTONOMY. WILL CONTINUE. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR PUBLICLY THAT THEY INTEND SUCH ARRANGEMENTS TO LAST FOR AT LEAST FIFTY YEARS FROM 1997. WE ARE WORKING FOR AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL ENSHRINE THAT PRINCIPLE OF CONTINUITY FOR THIS UNIQUE SOCIETY.
/+AS I