THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1984
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COUNCILLORS TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON JOINT AGREEMENT
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APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT AGREEMENT AT THE COUNCIL'S MEETINGS TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM ON OCTOBER 9 AND 11.
THIS WAS DECIDED AT THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE URBAN COUNCIL THIS MORNING.
THE PLATFORM FOR THE OPEN DISUCSSION ON THE SUBJECT WILL BE A MOTION TO BE INTRODUCED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, ON OCTOBER 9 WHEN HE WILL MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL WELCOMES THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG+.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT ALL 30 COUNCILLORS WILL SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT ON THESE TWO DAYS, WITH EACH COUNCILLOR LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES.
BLUEPRINT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT
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THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT WHICH WAS INITIALLED YESTERDAY WAS A BLUE PRINT FOR A NEW STAGE IN HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A FUNCTION ORGANISED BY THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE (HONG KONG SECTION) THIS EVENING, MR BRAY SAID THE AGREEMENT TOOK ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG'S NEEDS AND THE REALITIES OF HISTORY, AND PROVIDED A SOUND BASIS ON WHICH THE COMMUNITY COULD BUILD ITS FUTURE.
*WITH HONG KONG'S WIDELY RECOGNISED ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN MAKE IT WORK, AND THAT WE CAN BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE FOR OURSELVES, HE SAID.
MR BRAY NOTED THAT THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED FOR HONG KONG'S UNIQUE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, LEGAL AND OTHER SYSTEMS FOR 50 YEARS AFTER 1997, AND FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO HONG KONG'S NEW STATUS AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
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