WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989
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"THE GOVERNMENT OP THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA DECLARE THAT. DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THIS JOINT DECLARATION AND JUNE 30. 1997. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WILL DE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG WITH THE OBJECT OF MAINTAINING PRESERVING ITS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL STABILITY: THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL GIVE ITS CO-OPERATION IN THIS CONNECTION."
AND
AND
SPEAKING ON THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE FAC REPORT. MR ARCULLI SAID: "IT IS MOST INTERESTING. AND PERHAPS IRONIC, THAT CHINA CAN ASK AS MUCH OF BRITAIN AS BRITAIN CAN OF CHINA UNDER PARAGRAPH 4. PROVIDED THE OBJECT OF THE EXERCISE IS THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND THE SOCIAL STABILITY OF HONG KONG.
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HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THIS CONTEXT, PARAGRAPH 3.6 OF
THE FAC REPORT, WHICH RECOMMENDS THAT HONG KONG SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH THE SECOND AIRPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, DESERVED SOME MENTION.
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1 THE DECISION IS TO GO AHEAD, WOULD IT NOT BE A TANGIBLE SHOW OF BRITISH CONFIDENCE IF BRITAIN WERE ΤΟ PARTICIPATE AS A PARTNER AND/OR PROVIDER OF FUNDS IN THIS PROJECT?" HE ASKED.
HE ALSO QUERIED: "HOW CAN THE JOINT DECLARATION BE ENFORCED, AND WHAT IS THE REMEDY IN THE EVENT OF A BREACH? OR ARE WE TO ASSUME. CONTRARY TO WHAT HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US. THAT COUNTRIES DO NOT BREAK INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.
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MR ARCULLI SAID HE WAS SEEKING AN ABSOLUTE" AND "BULLETPROOF" GUARANTEE FROM BRITAIN. AND HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NOT AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST.
"THE BEST
ASSUMING THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINED FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE". HE ASKED HOW THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT COULD PERSUADE CHINA TO PLAY ITS PART.
"WE AT LEAST KNOW ONE EFFECT THE EVENTS OF JUNE 3 ΤΟ 4 IN TIANANMEN HAS HAD IT SHOOK UP THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, BUT HAS IT WOKEN UP THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT?"
MR ARCULLI DID NOT WHOLLY SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW EXPRESSED IN THE FAC REPORT THAT CHINA WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AGAINST THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
"BRITAIN MAY HAVE SHUT THE DOOR ON HONG KONG BEFORE. LET HER NOT FORGET THAT CHINA COULD DO THE SAME IN 1997," HE SAID.
ON THE SUBJECT OF NATIONALITY, MR ARCULLI SAID HE COULD NOT PRETEND THAT HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE PACKAGE RECOMMENDED BY THE FAC.
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