XN000022-1984-09-26 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1984

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TO GIVE CONF IDENCE BOTH IN HONG KONG AND TO THE WORLD AT LARGE IN ITS PROVISIONS THERE HAD ALSO TO BE A BINDING COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.

+ THE AGREEMENT PUBLISHED TODAY MEETS SQUARELY THESE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS. IT SPELLS OUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PRESERVE IN ALL ESSENTIAL ASPECTS THE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES WHICH HAVE HELPED HONG KONG TRANSFORM ITSELF IN 40 YEARS FROM CONDITIONS OF DEVASTATION TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING MANUFACTURING, TRADING AND FINANCIAL CENTRES. THE KEY PROVISIONS ENSHRINE AN UNEQUIVOCAL COMMITMENT BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND ITS ANNEXES, ALL OF

WHICH ARE EQUALLY BINDING. IN ENTERING INTO SUCH FRÉELY NEGOTIATED COMMITMENTS, SOVEREIGN STATES STAKE THE IR REPUTATION AND STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD.

+ THE CENTRAL CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG, AS OF ANY OTHER SOCIETY, IS TO KNOW HOW IT IS TO BE GOVERNED AND BY WHOM: WHERE IT WILL LOOK FOR JUSTICE: WHAT WILL BE THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF ITS SOCIETY: AND HOW IT WILL BE ABLE TO EARN A LIVING.

+ IT IS NOT YET PRACTICABLE TO SET OUT ALL THE DETAILS OF THE STRUCTURE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE GOVERNMENT. DEBATE ON THIS HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN IN HONG KONG AND PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. BUT THE ESSENTIALS HAVE BEEN COVERED. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT, AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HONG KONG WILL ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. THERE WILL BE AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE LAWS FOR HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG'S NEEDS. THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE AND BE BOUND TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE HIMSELF WILL BE CHOSEN BY ELECTION OR CONSULTATION. THESE PROVISIONS WILL ALLOW SCOPE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM AS THE YEARS PROGRESS. AS YOU KNOW, OUR OBJECTIVE IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD IS TO USE THAT PROCESS TO ROOT POLITICAL POWER IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT BELONGS.

+THE AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS

THE CITIZENS OF

OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

HONG KONG MAY THEREFORE BE CONFIDENT THAT THE LAW WILL BE ADMINISTERED IMPARTIALLY, AND THAT THE COURTS WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WHICH ARE PRESENTLY ENJOYED IN HONG KONG, AND WHICH ARE ASSURED BY THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL COVENANTS.

+ IN ANY SOCIETY THE IMMEDIATE INTERESTS OF THE ORDINARY MAN ARE IN THE RIGHT TO EARN HIS LIVING AND TO ENJOY THE REWARDS OF HIS ENDEAVOURS, TO GO ABOUT HIS DAILY LIFE WITHOUT INTERFERENCE, TO EDUCATE HIS CHILDREN AND TO SPEND HIS LEISURE TIME AS HE WILL. THE AGREEMENT PRESERVES HIS RIGHTS IN ALL THESE FIELDS.

/+ME AGREEMENT