THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1984
+THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AS DR IP AND MR SO AMONG MANY OTHERS HAVE RECOGNISED, DEPENDS ON THE ATTITUDES AND EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+ IN APPROACHING THE AGREEMENT IN A POSITIVE SPIRIT AND WITH DETERMINATION TO MAKE IT WORK, I BELIEVE MEMBERS HAVE REFLECTED THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
ON THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE IR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT KNOWN AND THAT THOSE VIEWS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY RECORDED AND ASSESSED.
+THIS IS NO COSMETIC EXERCISE. IT IS A GENUINE EFFORT TO ESTABLISH THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO THE AGREEMENT AND MR WONG LAM RECOGNISED THAT PARLIAMENT DID NEED TO KNOW THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+ IT ALSO IS VERY MUCH IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THAT THEIR VIEWS ON THE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE SET OUT TO BE STUDIED AT LEISURE BY ALL THOSE CONCERNED WITH ITS IMPLEMENTATION,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
FIRM BASE FOR HK TO MOVE AHEAD
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AG SAYS
WITH THE INITIALLING OF THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT, HONG KONG NOW HAD THE FIRMEST POSSIBLE BASE FROM WHICH TO MOVĚ FORWARD, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+DOUBTS ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ARE NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE FEARS THIS TERRITORY WOULD HAVE INCREASINGLY IF BRITAIN AND CHINA HAD FAILED TO REACH AGREEMENT, MR THOMAS SAID, SPEAKING ON THE MOTION ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT.
+THIS AGREEMENT IS EVEN BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG EXPECTED. I AM SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE RIGHT TO COMMEND IT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS TERRITORY, HE SAID.
HE STATED THAT IF HONG KONG WAS TO CONTINUE TO BE PROSPEROUS AND STABLE, IT WAS OF PRIME IMPORTANCE THAT ITS LEGAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE MAINTAINED SO FAR AS PRACTICABLE IN THE FUTURE.
AND MR THOMAS SAID THAT PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT DEALING WITH THE LAW AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM PROVIDED IN A MOST SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S FAMILIAR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.
/HE ADDED