TNAG-1170-FCO40-1450-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 12

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THE REFORM CLUB OF HONG KONG

801 FU HING BUILDING,

JUBILEE STREET,

ONG KONG.

TEL.: 5-450001

REFORM

CLUB

13.

The Reform Club appreciates that:

(a)

14.

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

(f)

The people of Hong Kong are extremely anxious to have the future of Hong Kong resolved by the Chinese Government and the British Government without any delay;

Both the Chinese Government and the British Government have their difficulties in starting negotiation on the issue;

The time is ripe for negotiation as the Chinese Government has already acknowledged that the time has come for the Chinese Government to think about Hong Kong's future;

The Chinese Government has indicated through its high-ranking diplomat that China hoped to resolve the problem of Hong Kong's future so as to ensure a continued British presence while not jeopardising its own sovereignty as shown in a report published by the Agence France Presse, a clipping thereof is attached hereto; The mandate of 93.4% of the adults in Hong Kong, ́ according to the finding of the opinion poll, shows great majority of the people of Hong Kong prefer Hong Kong to be governed after 1997 under British Administration;

The British Government cannot shirk its respon- sibility towards the people of Hong Kong in respect of negotiation with the Chinese Government on Hong Kong's future in accordance with the wishes of the people as expressed in the opinion poll.

Therefore with the mandate from and on behalf of the great majority of the people of Hong Kong, the Reform Club respectfully submits and appeals to the British Government as well as the Parliament:

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