WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1984
A. NO, THE CHOICE, AS WE SAY VERY PLAINLY IN THE WHITE PAPER, 15 A CHOICE BETWEEN REVERSION OF THE TERRITORY AT THE END OF THE LEASE, TO CHINA, WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT, OR, REVERSION ON THE BASIS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS AGREED AND SET OUT SO FULLY IN THIS DOCUMENT. IN SAYING THAT, TO USE A CHINESE PHRASE, A PROBLEM
THE CHINESE LEFT OVER FROM HISTORY. IN 1997 THAT LEASE RUNS OUT. GOVERNMENT, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, WANT TO SEE THAT DATE GO BY WITH THE ASSURANCE OF CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FOR HONG KONG AFTER THAT DATE. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND THE RIGHT ARRANGEMENTS TO ASSURE IT. WE'RE COMMENDING IT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
Q. SIR GEOFFREY, PETER RUTLEDGE REPRESENTING TVB NEWS IN HONG KONG: HOW WILL YOUR GOVERNMENT GO ABOUT PERSUADING OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DOCUMENT THAT THE UK WILL ISSUE TO THE CITIZENS OF HONG KONG AS A VALID DOCUMENT?
A. ON THE BASIS THAT IT WILL BE ESSENTIALLY A CONTINUATION OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE RELEVANT PEOPLE THE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS UNDER PRESENT LAW - NOW HAVE. AND I THINK THAT THE FEATURE THAT ENCOURAGES ME MOST IN THE REACTION SO FAR TO THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN THE VERY STRONG, POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING RESPONSE WE'VE GOT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THEY REGARD IT AS
THEY IMPORTANT FOR ITS OWN SAKE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD SUCCEED- REGARD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT AS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE. I THINK THAT, I SHALL BE VERY SURPRISED, IF OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE ALREADY WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT SO STRONGLY WERE TO REACT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ON THE PARTICULAR POINT YOU'VE RAISED.
Q. ..... ONE, IS THIS A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LAWS? SECONDLY, HOW THE VIEWPOINT OF THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN REPRESENTED IN THIS CASE?
A.
FIRST POINT. YES, IT IS A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT AND AS THE AGREEMENT ITSELF SAYS 'BINDING IN ALL ITS PARTS' - INCLUDING THE ANNEXES. IT'S A BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO SOVEREIGN STATES THE HIGHEST KIND OF COMMITMENT THEY CAN GIVE TO EACH OTHER IN THAT RESPECT. AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, IT'S A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF COMMON INTEREST. WE WANT THIS TO SUCCEED, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WANTS THIS TO SUCCEED. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, OF COURSE, WANT IT TO SUCCEED, AND THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF CHINA WANT IT TO SUCCEED. AND THAT IS THE CEMENT, THE FOUNDATION OF GOOD WILL, WHICH UNDERPINS AND SUSTAINS THIS BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. OF COURSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IN YOUR SECOND QUESTION, TO EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND WITH INCREASING INTENSITY AS THE MONTHS HAVE GONE BY, WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSULTATION WITH THOSE PEOPLE. MYSELF, OTHER MINISTERS HAVE BEEN TO HONG KONG, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN IN LONDON. I HAVE MADE STATEMENTS IN HONG KONG AND CANVASSED OPINION THERE, IN ORDER TO BE SURE THAT THE AGREEMENT WE'RE WORKING FOR IS AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL FULFIL WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT. WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT VERY HARD. I HOPE AND BELIEVE WE'VE SUCCEEDED.
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