THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1984
+BUT HONG KONG'S GROWTH AND SUCCESS - ESPECIALLY IN THE POST- WAR YEARS, EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES - HAS BEEN DUE ABOVE ALL TO THE REMARKABLE TALENTS AND ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. THE IR CHARACTER, THEIR ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN SO STRIKING THAT OUR PRIME COMMITMENT COULD ONLY BE TO THEM.
+WE WERE DETERMINED TO DO ALL WE COULD TO PRESERVE WHAT THEY HAVE BUILT BY THEIR OWN ENDEAVOUR. WE SOUGHT A REALISTIC FRAMEWORK, ONE WHICH TOOK ACCOUNT OF CHINESE INTERESTS.
+ BUT AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND WE SOUGHT ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ASSURANCES THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE IR TALENTS AND APPLY THE IR ENERGY THAT WHAT I WOULD CALL HONG KONG'S GENIUS COULD CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND THAT IT COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNISATION OF CHINA AS A WHOLE.
+ I BELIEVE WE HAVE SECURED SUCH ARRANGEMENTS AND THAT THE AGREEMENT IS A GOOD ONE.
+ IT PROVIDES IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AND IN BINDING FORM FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO YOUR UNIQUE SOCIETY.
+AS A RESULT, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN, I BELIEVE, FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE.
+THE ASSESSMENT HAS SHOWN THAT THEY REGARD THE AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE ACCEPTABLE. THE PROCESS OF ASSESSMENT WAS REAL AND IT IS IMPORTANT. PARLIAMENT WOULD HAVE EXPECTED NO LESS BEFORE APPROVING THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
+1 WELCOME THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT HAS GIVEN A CLEAR ACCOUNT OF THE RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS WHICH PEOPLE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY FEEL ON INDIVIDUAL POINTS. THIS WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE TO US WHEN WE BEGIN THE TASK OF PUTTING THE AGREEMENT INTO EFFECT.
+THE SUCCESS OF ANY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF COURSE DEPENDS UPON THE GOOD FAITH AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE SIGNATORIES.
+ | BRING TO YOU THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. WE SHALL DO OUR UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT THE AGREEMENT WORKS.
+AND | BRING FROM MY TALKS IN PEKING WITH THE MOST SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS A SIMILAR COMMITMENT. THEY ASSURED ME THAT FOR THE IR PART THAT THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENTED. INDEED PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG ASSURED ME YESTERDAY IN PEKING, IT WAS THE TRADITION OF THE CHINESE NATION TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH, TO LIVE UP TO ITS INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS AND THAT CHINA WOULD PROVE ITS WORDS WITH ITS DEEDS. CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING CONFIRMED THIS.
+OF COURSE YOU STILL HAVE YOUR CONCERNS. AND UNDERSTAND THEM.
/+ON NATIONALITY
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