XN000022-1993-04-02 — Page 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1993

And, thirdly, there is another question. Would China be prepared to allow anyone who was elected in 1994 and who accepted the basic law (the mini-constitution for Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty), would China be prepared to allow anyone who was elocted in 1995 to travel through the transition in 1997 to the or is it China' S and of the Legislative Council in 19997 position that some people, even if they're fairly elected, and can be thrown off the even if they accept the basic law, Legislative Council at the time of the transfer of sovereignty in 19977 Those are all serious and important questions, and one reason why I very much hope that we have talks is so that we' 11 be able to discuss the answers to those questions over the coming months. I think that would be a better way of spending a spring in Peking rather than inventing new forms of denunciatory language for the new China newa agancy.

They are difficult issues, the ones that I've described, but they're issues which I believe can and will and should be solved successfully. And, when I consider whether or not they'll be solved successfully, I do bear in mind that the old and wise advice that nobody ever made any money by betting against Hong Kong.

One final point that I'd like to make to this international audience. Chinese officials very often, when I or others make a speech like this, Chinese officials very often accuse us of internationalisation, of internationalising Hong Kong, as though anyone from the United Kingdom or from the Hong Kong government should take a vow of silence about Hong Kong and its development. I don't think that's a very wise or a very strong argument, and of course, it's not an argument which China applies to itself.

a few months VNMY VIEW I don't remember when Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, a few months wrong,Y critical ago, made some remarks which were about political

political development in Hong Kong, I don't remember Chinese officials denouncing him for internationalising the issue. The rest of the world, the Community, individual members of the Community, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, countries in the Asian region, the rest of the world recognises that the succèssful implementation of the joint declaration of the treaty between Britain and China is a matter for Britain and China. But, one can't expect the rest of the world not to be interested in whether there is successful implementation of the joint declaration. After all, Hong Kong is a priceless asset for the world, a tribute to the energies of free men and women, operating The rest of the in a free society and in a free market economy. world wants to see Hong Keng doing well today, and the rest of the world will want to see Hong Kong, after 1997, making a huge contribution to China's ́success, as China plays a dominant, and we must all hope, a responsible and a constructive role on the world stage. It's important, in my judgement, I say this again Unequivocally, it's important for the whole world that china succeeds and succeeds spectacularly in the huge task which Chinese leaders have taken on, transforming their economy. And, I think it is important for the world as well that Hong Kong, before 1997 and after 1997, as part of China, succeeds, too.

Thank you very much.

/RESPONSES DURING