SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1984
QUESTION SIX:
WOULD IT BE TRUE TO SAY THAT SIR GEOFFREY HOWE WILL BE TAKING A NUMBER OF COUNTER PROPOSALS TO BEIJING WITH HIM TO TRY AND CLEAR THE STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT REMAIN TO THE SIGNING OF A DRAFT AGREEMENT IN SEPTEMBER.
ANSWER:
WELL, OF COURSE, AS I HAVE SAID, THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO CARRY FORWARD THESE TALKS, THE TALKS WHICH ARE CONTINUING. THERE IS, INDEED ANOTHER ROUND BEFORE HE GOES THERE - JUST BEFORE HE GOES THERE THE WEEK AFTER NEXT AS YOU KNOW.
BUT, HIS PURPOSE, AS HE DID BACK IN APRIL, IS TO CARRY FORWARD THESE TALKS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL AND NATURALLY I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ALL OF YOU WHO ARE CLOSE OBSERVERS OF THE SCENE WOULD NOT FIND IT SURPRISING THAT A SENIOR MINISTER OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SHOULD FIND IT SENSIBLE TO MAKE THIS KIND OF CONTACT AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THE TALKS, AND THIS MAY WELL BE ONE OF OTHER VISITS THAT COULD BE PAID AT LATER STAGES.
QUESTION SEVEN:
WHAT ABOUT THE CHANCE OF HAVING A DRAFT AGREEMENT IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. HOW DETAILED DO YOU THINK THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE ?
ANSWER :
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT, THE LAST PART OF YOUR QUESTION AS YOU KNOW. IT REFLECTS VERY MUCH AS I ANSWER IT, THE VIEWS I BELIEVE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AND THAT IS THAT WE MUST WORK FOR AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK VERY HARD FOR, A DETAILED AND BINDING AGREEMENT.
IF YOU ASK FOR DETAILS AND BINDING → OR TO OBTAIN AGREEMENT THAT IS DETAILED AND BINDING - THAT CLEARLY REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF WORK. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEREFORE WHY THERE IS A WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED IN PEKING, WORKING LITERALLY OR VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY. IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE WANTING TO ACHIEVE IN THE AGREEMENT AS MUCH DETAIL AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WHY? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG NEED THE ASSURANCE THAT THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL CONTINUE BEYOND 1997: THE FREEDOMS THEY HAVE GOT USED TO: THE LEGAL SYSTEM THEY HAVE GOT USED TO; EVERYTHING THAT GOES TO MAKE UP THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THAT IS WHY WE ARE AIMING AND WE CONTINUE TO AIM, IT IS A MAJOR PART OF IT, FOR A DETAILED AND BINDING AGREEMENT.
QUESTION:
YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF MY QUESTION, HOW ABOUT THE CHANCE OF HAVING A DRAFT AGREEMENT IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR?
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/ANSWER