XN000022-1984-04-20 — Page 8

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984

Q10. JAMES STERNGOLD, AP DOW-JONES

A.

IN THE FORM OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH YOU HAVE DESCRIBED HERE, WHICH WOULD BE AN AUTONOMOUSLY ADMINISTERED HONG KONG, UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, CAN YOU

YOU FORESEE - MY QUESTION REFERS TO THE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING LINKS INTERNATIONALLY WITH HONG KONG - DO YOU THINK THAT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WOULD RECOGNISE A SOMEWHAT AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG, INDEPENDENT OF CHINA, IN TERMS OF MONETARY FACTORS, SUCH AS TEXTILE QUOTAS AND THAT SORT OF THING?

THAT IS ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT FEATURES THAT WE DO NEED TO ACHIEVE. I BELIEVE THAT UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS WE HAVE IN MIND IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, AND CERTAINLY DESIRABLE, TO SECURE AGREEMENT ON THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE WIDE NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN WHICH IT ALREADY PLAYS A PART, AND ITS MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OF THE KIND YOU HAVE IN MIND IS IMPORTANT IN THE SAME CONTEXT TO ENSURE THAT THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE FREELY AND AS AN INDEPENDENT CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY. I BELIEVE THAT ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE PART OF THE ESSENTIAL ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG WOULD BE ACHIEVABLE IN THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE IN MIND.

Q11. REPORTER, NEW EVENING POST

A.

WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL DO IN THE 13 YEARS BEFORE 1997 TO MAINTAIN THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG?

IN THE 13 YEARS UP TO 1997, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE THE INTENTION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IN EXACTLY THE PRESENT WAY. WE ARE CONCERNED, AS I AM SURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED, TO MAINTAIN CONTINUING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY ON EXACTLY THE PRESENT LINES. WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IS A CHANGE IN 1997 WITH THE LEAST POSSIBLE DISTURBANCE. FROM NOW ON UP TO 1997, THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE THE FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S PRESENT PROSPERITY, AND AFTER 1997, THE LEAST POSSIBLE CHANGE SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE WAY OF LIFE WHICH THEY KNOW TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR SUCCESS WILL CONTINUE.

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