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15
We must not allow that contagion to spread. Instead, we should bear Mr Chan Kam-chuen's advice in mind: "the only true information will be the official announcements made from time to time arising from the official Sino-British talks on our future".
33.
I believe the people of Hong Kong will look at the situation as it unfolds in its proper context. They will recall the joint statement issued after the Prime Minister's meeting with Chairman Deng Xiaoping. This referred to the discussions with Chinese leaders which had taken place "in a friendly atmosphere" and announced the agreement reached "to enter talks through diplomatic channels, following the visit, with the common aim of maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong".
No-one should underestimate the
significance of that common objective.
34.
You said in your Address, Sir, that, given the common objective, you shared the Prime Minister's belief that the differences between the two sides could be reconciled and that an agreement could be reached which would be acceptable to the British and Chinese Governments and which would be welcomed by the people of Hong Kong. Mr Chan Kam-chuen gave us a timely reminder of some of the reasons for faith in the outcome of the talks in Peking. Pre-eminent amongst them is the overwhelming mutual interest of all concerned in the continuing prosperity and stability of this place. If that prosperity and that stability were to be undermined no-one would benefit here or elsewhere.
35.
As Mr Wong Lam rightly pointed out, the key to continuing prosperity is confidence. The Concise
Oxford Dictionary defines confidence, which is a mental attide, as "firm trust, assured expectation".
Translated
into Hong Kong terms, confidence in the future involves having an expectation that familiar, predictable and well tried socio-economic and legal systems will not be disturbed, for they have been the framework within which
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