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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1984
+WE STARTED THIS EXERCISE UNDER VERY FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AGREEMENT HAS ALREADY WON HIGH PRAISE FROM MANY LEADING NATIONS IN THE WORLD. THE AGREEMENT IS REGARDED AS A GOOD ONE BY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE FIRMLY COMMITTED TO CARRYING OUT THE AGREEMENT TO THE FULL - SO TOO ARE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS THE ASSURANCE WHICH CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING AND PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG GAVE ME DURING MY DISCUSSIONS ON WEDNESDAY.
+OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT AND MANY OF THEM ARE REFLECTED IN THE CAREFUL REPORT PREPARED BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. I UNDERSTAND THESE CONCERNS AND THEY WILL BE VERY MUCH IN OUR MINDS AS WE START THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT.
+NEVERTHELESS, THIS IS A GOOD AGREEMENT. GOOD FOR HONG KONG AND FOR ITS FUTURE AND IT IS NOW UP TO ALL OF US TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS.
+LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR QUESTIONS.+
Q 1. HK ECONOMIC JOURNAL :
MRS THATCHER, WE ARE, INDEED, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG. BUT FROM THE HONG KONG PEOPLE'S POINT OF VIEW, IN ORDER TO SET OUR HEARTS AT EASE, AND TO HELP US ESTABLISHING AS BEFORE TO CREATE ANOTHE- MIRACLE, THE FIRST ASSURANCE IS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CHOOSE ANOTHER LIFESTYLE WHEN WE WANT TO. I THINK WE SHOULD REMEMBER ONE OF YOUR FEW HONG KONG ADVISERS ON THE HONG KONG ISSUE AND EXPER FENCED AND IMAGINATIVE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD PUT UP A PROPOSAL OF SETTI... UP A FUND IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE HONG KONG PEOPLE, IN CASE THEY NEED INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO CHOOSE ANOTHER LIFESTYLE. MRS PRIME MINISTER, OUR COMMON AIM IS TO MAINTAIN THE
MODERATOR: IS THIS A QUESTION?
COULD WE HAVE THE QUESTION?
YES, NOW I WILL COME TO THE QUESTION (LAUGHTER). MRS PRIME MINISTER, OUR COMMON AIM IS TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG. WILL MRS THATCHER AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT EVER CONSIDER HAVING HONG KONG PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH AND TO PROMOTE THIS FUND? AND COULD I JUST REMIND YOU, MRS PRIME MINISTER, DURING THE FALKLAND WAR IN WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO PROTECT A REMOTE DEPENDENT TERRITORY, ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACT RESPONSIBLE TO DONATE $20 MILLION HONG KONG TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC FUND IN ORDER TO HELP THE BRITISH PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR THE IR REPUTATION AND TO MAINTAIN BRITAIN'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. IN RETURN WILL THE PRITISH GOVERNMENT
/MODERATOR: