WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21. 1989
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HK MUST BUILD ON FOUNDATION OF JOINT DECLARATION: GOVERNOR
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON. TODAY (WEDNESDAY) STRESSED THAT HONG KONG MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION WHICH REMAINED THE BEST AND THE ONLY REALISTIC FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE.
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IN A STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE GOVERNOR SAID FACT WE
HAD TO RECOGNISE WAS THAT RECENT EVENTS IN CHINA HAD SHAKEN CONFIDENCE IN THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
"WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE OTHER FACTS AS WELL. HISTORY HAS GIVEN US THE DATE 1997 AS A POINT OF CHANGE IN HONG KONG'S DESTINY. OUR FUTURE IS INEXTRICABLY BOUND UP WITH CHINA.
"THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINS THE BEST INDEED THE ONLY REALISTIC FOUNDATION STONE FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE, A FUTURE AS PART OF CHINA, BUT A DISTINCTIVE PART WITH ITS OWN FREEDOMS. WAY OF LIFE AND FREE MARKET ECONOMY PRESERVED. SIR DAVID SAID.
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NOTING THAT WORK ON THE BASIC LAW WAS AT PRESENT IN SUSPENSE, SIR DAVID SAID THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE WORK WOULD SURELY RECOGNISE THAT THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION AND PROMULGATION SHOULD BE PROLONGED ΤΟ TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE RECENT ENFORCED DISRUPTION OF THE ORIGINAL TIMETABLE.
"WHEN WORK ON THE BASIC LAW RESUMES IT WILL REMAIN AS IMPORTANT AS EVER: MORE SO IF ANYTHING.
"THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL WANT TO SCRUTINISE THE DRAFT WITH THE GREATEST POSSIBLE CARE. TO ENSURE THAT IT PROVIDES TO THE FULL FOR ALL THE GUARANTEES OF THE HONG KONG SAR'S HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND THE PRESERVATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION." HE SAID.
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THE GOVERNOR SAID THE TIME HAD NOW COME WHEN HONG KONG MUST MOVE ON FROM THE SENSE OF SHOCK PRODUCED BY RECENT EVENTS IN CHINA.
"TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE WE LOOK FOR ACTIONS FROM CHINA AND FROM BRITAIN.
"BUT WE MUST ALSO. AND ESSENTIALLY, LOOK ΤΟ OURSELVES,
STRESSED.
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THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD SUFFERED SHOCKS MANY TIMES BEFORE. AND PULLED THROUGH.
"WE MUST AGAIN TURN OUR MINDS AND DEVOTE OUR ENERGIES TO BUILDING UP HONG KONG: MAINTAINING OUR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND DOING NOTHING TO DAMAGE THE STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY." SIR DAVID SAID.
/"WHILST WE