XN000022-1988-05-30 — Page 3

10

-

MONDAY, MAY 30, 1988

HE

SAID

THE

PROGRESS MADE SINCE THE

OF THE JOINT HONG KONG--THE AND HOPE

SIGNING 1984 OWED DECLARATION IN

OF SPIRIT DETERMINATION AND THE ABILITY TO TURN THOUGHT INTO ACTION INTO REALITY.

MUCH TO THE

WE ARE

BUILDING

DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY EXISTED BEFORE, "WHERE STEP-BY-STEP A STRUCTURE OF CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE.

"IT IS THAT HONG KONG SPIRIT WHICH GIVES ME THE CONVICTION THAT WHAT WE HAVE EMBARKED ON IS GOING TO WORK, HE SAID.

11

THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINED AS STRONG A FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE AS EVER, HE ADDED.

THE

SIR GEOFFREY EMPHASISED THAT THOUGH HE WAS "UNASHAMEDLY UPBEAT'

AND CONCERNS AMONG HONG KONG HE DID REALISE THAT THERE WERE FEARS PEOPLE, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THESE.

YOU HE SAID: "IT IS RIGHT AND NATURAL THAT

SHOULD CONSTANTLY BEING DONE WHICH CAN ASK YOURSELVES IF EVERYTHING IS

BE DONE TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE. THAT YOU SHOULD QUESTION, EXAMINE AND SUGGEST.

A

"IT IS IMPORTANT TOO THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR VIEWS AND CONCERNS, THAT IS WHY I AM HERE."

BRITAIN PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN BY

SIR GEOFFREY SAID REFERRING TO THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, WELCOMED THE CLOSE INVOLVEMENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE DRAFTING AND CONSULTATION, AND IT WELCOMED THE STEPS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO SEEK HONG KONG OPINION.

MASSIVE PROVISIONS

BASIC

LAW AS A ALL THE

HE DESCRIBED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE TEXT WHICH INCORPORATED, AS IT SHOULD, VIRTUALLY OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, OFTEN VERBATIM.

THE BASIC LAW KONG'S AUTONOMY IN ANY

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE OUTCOME OF SHOULD NOT BE SEEN TO FETTER HONG ADDED.

DRAFTING WAY, HE

THE JOINT DECLARATION, ON PROGRESS MADE SINCE THE SIGNING OF

CONTINUED SIR GEOFFREY SAID BRITAIN HAD

INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINA THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND IN MANY OTHER CONTACTS.

HE POINTED

TO NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

REGISTERED:

THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN

IN

OTHER

* AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP OF GATT * AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

PARTICIPATION

WIDE-RANGING AGREEMENTS ON TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

ON AIR SERVICES

ON CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS

"IN EVERY

-