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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1985
THE WAY AHEAD
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HONG KONG
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY (GENERAL DUTIES), MR PETER WILLIAMS, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN LONDON ON MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 30).
IT GIVES ME VERY MUCH PLEASURE TO ACCEPT TODAY'S INVITATION TO SPEAK AT THIS LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE R.1.I.A.
I SHALL BE OUTLINING THE FUTURE PROSPECT IN HONG KONG MATTER WHICH HAS TO BE TO A DEGREE SPECULATIVE. I WILL BE TALKING UNDER THESE HEADINGS:
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LEAD-UP TO THE SIGNING AND RATIFICATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION (J.D.)
THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND CONSEQUENCES OF THAT J.D. AND ITS ACCEPTANCE
AN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE THIS WILL NOW LEAD
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IN DOING THIS WILL TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG WITH SOME EMPHASIS ON OUR RELATIONS WITH AND THE STAND OF THE PRC AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HK.
LEAD-UP TO J.D.
FIRST THAT THE EVENTS (IN THE LONGER TERM) LEADING UP TO MAY THIS YEAR WHEN THE J.D. WAS RATIFIED BY THE UK AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS AND SOON THEREAFTER REGISTERED AT THE U.N..
IT IS POSSIBLE TO DISCERN FIVE PHASES IN THIS PERIOD, WHICH STARTS IN 1972.
1972
COLONIAL STATUS
THE STARTING POINT IN THIS RECENT HISTORY WAS CHINA'S STAND CONVEYED TO THE U.N. SPECIAL COMMITTEE CONCERNED WITH THE INDEPENDENCE OF COLONIAL TERRITORIES IN MARCH 1972. CHINA SAID THAT THE SETTLEMENT OF THE HK QUESTION WAS A MATTER OF CHINA'S SOVEREIGN RIGHT AND CONSEQUENTLY HK SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF COLONIAL TERRITORIES COVERED BY THE DECLARATION DRAWN UP BY THE U.N. FOR THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE. AT THIS TIME, THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP SAID THAT THE HK PROBLEM WOULD BE SETTLED WHEN THE TIME WAS RIPE.
THIS ASSERTION