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MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1984
IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TALKS WE EXPLORED WHETHER IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE. IN THE INTERESTS OF MINIMUM CHANGE, TO SECURE A MEANS OF AGREEMENT FOR CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997 ON THE BASIS OF OUR RECOGNITION
OF CHINA'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WHOLE TERRITORY. IT BECAME
CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT A SOLUTION ALONG THESE LINES
WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WE CONCLUDED THAT A BREAKDOWN IN THE TALKS, WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED, WOULD NOT HAVE SERVED THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. INDEED, IT WOULD HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
WE THEREFORE DECIDED, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN HONG KONG, TO EXPLORE CHINESE IDEAS FOR HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA- ENJOYING A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE DEGREE OF CONTINUITY IN ITS SYSTEMS AND WAY OF LIFE.
MY LORDS, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT LAID BEFORE THIS HOUSE AS A WHITE PAPER IS THE OUTCOME OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE NEGOTIATORS, ON BOTH SIDES, FOR THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT WHICH IT REPRESENTS -- IN PARTICULAR, TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY FOR HIS DETERMINED AND PATIENT DIPLOMACY WHICH PLAYED SUCH A GREAT PART IN THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, FOR THEIR WISE ADVICE AND FOR THE COURAGE WITH WHICH THEY HAVE FACED MANY DIFFICULT DECISIONS. THE MANY OFFICIALS INVOLVED
IN THE TALKS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS FROM OUR OWN DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, SHOWED DEDICATION AND GREAT RESOURCEFULNESS.
THE AGREEMENT IS BOTH COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED. IT PROVIDES A FIRM BASIS FOR THE FUTURE AND WILL, I BELIEVE, GIVE CONFIDENCE BOTH TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
I WILL NOT BORE YOU WITH THE AGREEMENT, POINT-BY-POINT, AS NOBLE LORDS WILL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IT IN DETAIL SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, CERTAIN ASPECTS WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASISE.
THE FIRST IS THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES, TOGETHER, CONSTITUTE A LEGALLY-BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. AS THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER RECENTLY SAID, THE JOINT DECLARATION IS A FORM OF INTERNATIONAL TREATY AND HAS THE SAME FORCE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW.
/SECONDLY, ULDER