47
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
IN A MOTION DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL IN MAY THIS YEAR, I REFERRED TO THE SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS WE MADE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION. IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO RECALL SOME OF THESE POINTS IN BRIEF.
.
KONG'S
* FIRST, NOTABLY, WE HAVE ATTAINED AGREEMENT ON HÔNG
CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN 29 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE GATT, THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, THE IMF AND OTHER BODIES WHICH ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG TO KEEP ABREAST OF AND TO TAKE PART IN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TRADE, SHIPPING AND MONETARY FIELDS, WHICH ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
*
*
SECOND, AGREEMENTS ON THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF 161 INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO HONG KONG HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED, AND WORK ON THE REMAINING 30 OR SO AGREEMENTS CONTINUING.
THIRD, TO MAINTAIN OUR STATUS AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE SHIPPING, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OUR OWN SHIPPING REGISTER.
IS
OF
*
FOURTH, IN JUNE, WE CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT ON DEFENCE WHICH GOVERNS THE TRANSFER OF THE MILITARY ESTATE AND WHICH 25 SITES WILL BE RETURNED TO CIVILIAN USE FOR DEVELOPMENTS.
I
COULD GO ON.
LANDS
UNDER OTHER
BUT THIS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS, STEADY AND MEASURED PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO PREPARE FOR THE TRANSITION.
WE RECOGNISE FULLY THAT WITH ONLY 32 MONTHS LEFT BEFORE THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY, WE HAVE TO RE-DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO COMPLETE OUR WORK ON THE JLG AGENDA. IN THIS REGARD, WE HAVE RECENTLY MADE VARIOUS PROPOSALS TO THE CHINESE SIDE TO EXPEDITE PROGRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, BY HOLDING MORE PLENARY SESSIONS AND EXPERT GROUPS. THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO SPEED UP THE WORK OF THE JLG, AND WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS· FURTHER DETAILED IDEAS, AND ANY OTHER SUGGESTION FROM THE CHINESE SIDE, THEIR NEW SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE JLG.
OUR
WITH
FROM TIME TO TIME, SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT IF WE WERE UNABLE TO ATTAIN CONSENSUS IN JLG, WE SHOULD TAKE ACTION OF OUR
OWN. LET ME SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A COST-FREE OPTION. IT WOULD NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, GIVE US THE DEGREE OF CERTAINTY AND CONTINUITY OF OUR SYSTEMS THAT WE ALL DESIRE. SURELY A MUCH BETTER WAY OF MANAGING THE TRANSITION IS TO SECURE AGREEMENT AND TO WORK ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL COOPERATION. BEARING IN MIND THE SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS WE HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED IN THE JLG, THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN UNATTAINABLE OBJECTIVE, AND IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THAT. IF THE BEST IS NOT UNATTAINABLE, WHY SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LESS
+
/LOCALISATION AND