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ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN OBVIOUS TO ME THIS WEEK IS THE CONCERN IN EVERYONE'S MINDS ABOUT THE FUTURE. IT IS IMMENSELY HELPFUL TO ME TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE VIEWS OF SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS VITAL QUESTION. FOR MY PART I SHOULD LIKE TO REITERATE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED PEKING IN SEPTEMBER, SHE AND THE CHINESE LEADERS AGREED TO ENTER TALKS WITH THE COMMON AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS PHRASE RATHER A LOT RECENTLY, BUT DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ITS IMPORTANCE.
WE INTEND TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE TALKS. THERE IS NO SET TIME TABLE FOR THEM AND AS THE PRIME MINISTER INDICATED IN SEPTEMBER THEIR CONTENTS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
FINALLY TWO THINGS, FIRST, IT IS THE TALKS THAT COUNT AND WE MUST NOT BE PREJUDICED BY ANYTHING SAID OUTSIDE THEM. SECOND, WE MUST SEEK A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, TO CHINA AND TO BRITAIN. WE ARE SUPPORTED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC ARE EXCELLENT. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE FOR ALL THREE SIDES WE SHALL FAIL TO FIND AN OUTCOME ACCEPTABLE TO ALL.
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