XN000022-1984-12-08 — Page 2

-

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1984

WIDE SUPPORT FOR ACCORD, GOVERNOR SAYS

****

THE SUPPORT BY ALL SIDES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG INDICATED A VERY WIDE COMMITMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

HE SAID THIS WAS ONE OF THE POINTS WHICH STRUCK HIM VERY FORCIBLY DURING THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WHICH HE HAD JUST ATTENDED.

SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG FROM WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS +A VERY USEFUL AND EVENTFUL TRIP TO LONDON+.

+THE SECOND ONE WAS THE DETERMINATION OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT TO MAINTAIN A CONTINUING INTEREST IN HONG KONG, AND THE READINESS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO CONTEMPLATE SOME SYSTEM OF REGULAR ACCOUNTABILITY ON HONG KONG MATTERS, HE SAID.

+THERE WAS ALSO AMONG THE GREAT MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AN UNDERSTANDING THAT IN DEVELOPING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, HONG KONG MUST BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED AT ITS OWN PACE AND TO DEVISE A SYSTEM WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT OUR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY.

+

+ALL THOSE WERE IMPORTANT POINTS, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE DEBATE ITSELF WAS VERY WELL PREPARED.

+ IT HAD BEFORE IT REALLY QUITE IMPRESSIVE DOCUMENTATION, NOT ONLY IN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF, BUT IN THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, AND OF COURSE THE MEMORANDUM WHICH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD PREPARED BEFORE THEY WENT TO LONDON.

+THESE DOCUMENTS DID MEAN THAT MEMBERS WERE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE WIDELY EXPRESSED DURING THE DEBATE.

+AND OF COURSE THE PRIME MINISTER HERSELF GAVE THE UNDERTAKING THAT THESE CONCERNS WOULD BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ITSELF AND IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

/+AND FINALLY

י