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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993
of living of the people of Hong Kong. I take all those commitments by a number of Chinese leaders, including the leader whom you have just quoted, at their face value.
No one argues about the reality of the resumption of Chinese sovreignty and, I assume, no one argues about the important role that Hong Kong can play as a part of one country if its system continues to thrive and prosper. I do not suggest for one moment that Hong Kong does not derive huge benefits from the successful economic revolution in China of course it does. But it is a symbiotic relationship and Hong Kong, for its part, is helping
-
well. Hong Kong today
Hong Kong and Guandong
It is in Hong Kong's
to carry forward that revolution as
represents about 19% of China's GNP.
represent about 29% of China's GNP.
interest, it is in China's interest and it is in the world's
interests. The prosperity of which Hong Kong is part and which
Hong Kong has helped to create continues. I would have thought
that that was a reality, if you like, to go back into history
a Marxist reality which will continue to obtain..
ROSEMARY WRIGHT (The Times): Mr Patten, if talks were
to take place, you have said they would be difficult, You have
also said that your responsibility is to discharge, in time for the elections in 1994 and 1995 - what would be the risk in your view, that these difficult talks would drag on so long that they would rather overtake the timetable for elections in 1994 and
19957
CHRIS PATTEN: There is, of course, a danger that the later you start talks the more of a problem you have in both
/CONCLUDING THEM
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