XN000022-1984-10-26 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1984

+ IT IS NOW FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO GIVE THEIR

VIEWS ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY BEEN INFORMED OF THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE TO ENABLE THEM TO DO SO. OVER TWO MILLION COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED IN THE TERRITORY.

+ I AM VERY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE HOUSE THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG HAS FELT ABLE TO RECOMMEND THE DRAFT AGREEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THE WORDS OF THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER - IN GOOD CONSCIENCE'.

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+THE HOUSE WILL ALSO WISH TO KNOW THAT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE IR DEBATE LAST WEEK, THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GAVE THE DRAFT AGREEMENT THEIR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND SIMILARLY COMMENDED IT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+BEYOND THAT I HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE FAVOURABLE REACTIONS WHICH HAVE COME FROM MANY OTHER PUBLIC BODIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN HONG KONG AND BY THE WIDE INTERNATIONAL WELCOME IT HAS RECEIVED.

+THE HOUSE IN DUE COURSE WISH TO KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT WAS MADE QUITE CLEAR IN THE WHITE PAPER THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ITSELF CANNOT BE AMENDED. BUT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ON ALL PARTS OF IT WILL BE OF VALUE IN OUR CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. PARTICULARLY IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. I AM SURE THE HOUSE WOULD WISH ME TO URGE EVERYONE IN HONG KONG TO SUBMIT THEIR VIEWS ON ALL THESE ASPECTS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.

+ THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE TOGETHER WITH THAT OF THE MONITORING TEAM, WILL BE PUBLISHED AT ABOUT THE END OF NOVEMBER. THE HOUSE WILL OF COURSE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THESE REPORTS WHEN IT DEBATES THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, AND I KNOW THAT MR RT HON FRIENDS, THE LEADERS OF THE HOUSE, WILL BE SEEKING TO GIVE THE HOUSE AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THE MATTER AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THESE REPORTS.

+ IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO ANTICIPATE THAT DEBATE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE QUITE CLEAR ITS OWN VIEW THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE ASSURANCES WHICH ARE NECESSARY IF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE. IN THE WORDS OF THE WHITE PAPER: "HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT BELIEVE THAT THE AGREEMENT IS A GOOD ONE. THEY STRONGLY COMMEND IT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO PARLIAMENT.+

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