XN000022-1984-12-20 — Page 17

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1984

+ALL THESE HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN THE AGREEMENT.

-

INDEED J

THE GOVERNMENTS OF HONG KONG'S MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS HAVE ALREADY WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT FOR EXAMPLE THE UNITED STATES, THE

AND IN EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, JAPAN, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, MANY CASES THESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE PLEDGED THEMSELVES TO HELP IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

+THE AGREEMENT PRESERVES THE ESSENTIALS FOR HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS.

* HONG KONG'S FREEDOM TO PURSUE ITS OWN ECONOMIC POLICIES

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS OWN NEEDS;

*

THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, FREE TRADE POLICIES AND THE FREE PORT;

*

HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO RETAIN ITS SEPARATE POSITION WITHIN THE GATT AND OTHER MULTILATERAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS: AND ITS FREEDOM TO DEVELOP ITS OWN ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS WITH ALL STATES AND REGIONS;

* A FREELY CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY

*

FREEDOM TO PURSUE PRUDENT BUDGETARY POLICIES DETERMINED BY HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG'S OWN NEEDS;

* THE RIGHT OF COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO OWN AND DISPOSE

OF PROPERTY: AND THE PROTECTION OF THESE RIGHTS IN LAW;

*

AND ABOVE ALL, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WHICH ARE THE ESSENCE OF YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

+ I CAN ASSURE HONG KONG'S PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD THAT THE FREE AND DYNAMIC BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS ATTRACTED THEM IN SUCH LARGE NUMBERS FOR SO MANY YEARS WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. HONG KONG IS A GOING CONCERN WITH A FUTURE STRETCHING INTO THE NEXT CENTURY AND BEYOND.

+WE COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED SUCH A GOOD AGREEMENT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND ADVICE OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AND SPEAK ING HERE TONIGHT AMONG SO MANY OLD FRIENDS, I SHOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS,

+ I SHOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE FIRMNESS OF HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE WISDOM OF HIS ADVICE.

+ THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED GUIDANCE OF SIR S.Y. CHUNG, HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE THROUGHOUT THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY. THE ADVICE OFFERED BY EXCO THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS WAS OF THE GREATEST VALUE. I CAN RECALL MANY OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN THE CABINET ROOM AT 10 DOWNING STREET WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE CRUCIAL ISSUES TOGETHER.

+ALL MEMBERS