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Governor calls for concrete reassurances on HK's future
The Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, today (Monday) calls for more concrete reassurances be given to individuals and businesses if Britain and China are to discharge their common obligation to ensure a successful transition for Hong Kong,
The British and the Hong Kong Governments can do their bit to give reassurance by remaining firmly committed to implementing the Joint Declaration in full, he said.
This can also be done by their obvious commitment to ensuring that Hong Kong is in the best possible economic, environmental, social and educational shape on June 30, 1997, so that the Special Administrative Region Government can get off to the best possible start on July 1, 1997, he added.
"There are people in Hong Kong who could give more reassurance by being less ready to let go of components of Hong Kong's economic and social success, to let go of assets assured to Hong Kong in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law, whenever there is any sign of controversy about them," he said.
Addressing a luncheon meeting of the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Mr Patten pointed out that as 1997 came closer, individuals and businesses were looking not to Britain nor the Governor, but to China to provide reassurances: and indeed concrete evidence that the principles enshrined in the Joint Declaration will be upheld and implemented in the future.
Hong Kong and its people have prospered because of Hong Kong's virtuous adherence to its fundamental virtues.
The fundamentals are a free, open market; low taxes; prudent spending; clean and competent administration; rule of law; an international outlook; investment in the future and exchange rate stability.
Hong Kong is not going to turn back on the secrets of its success, he said.
"There can be no doubt about that before 1997. There should be no doubt about that after 1997. Sadly some people have such doubts," he said.
Mr Patten said the doubts might have begun to creep in because the Joint Liaison Group had over the years not been able to deal as quickly with outstanding issues as people hoped, and because misunderstandings and agreements had emerged.
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