TNAG-1231-FCO40-1544-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 88

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CHOSEN TO MAKE HONG KONG THEIR HOME.

4. THE STORY OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN ONE OF ALMOST UNPARALLELED

ECONOMIC SUCCESS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE ENTERPRISE AND SHEER

HARD WORK OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AS WELL AS COOPERATION WITH

CHINA. BUT IT IS ALSO DUE TO THE WELL-TRIED FRAMEWORK OF STABILITY

AND CONTINUITY WHICH THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE PROVIDED FOR SO #

MANY YEARS. IT IS OUR BELIEF, AND, WE ARE CONFIDENT, THE BELIEF OF THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THAT THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THE

CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG IS TO AVOID

DISTRURBING THE COMPLEX ARRANGEMENTS WHICH NOW PROVIDE

THE FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS

APPROACH REFLECTS THE INTERESTS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO OVER THE

YEARS HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE HERE.

5.

THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS WE ARE OF COURSE CONCERNED TO

GET A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIEWS OF THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT, AS THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO LISTEN TO OUR

VIEWS. ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING WE BELIEVE THAT THE

TALKS SHOULD FOCUS PARTICULARLY ON HOW FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS CAN

GUARANTEE THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S FREE ECONOMY AND WAY OF LIFÈ, AND THUS SUSTAIN THE CONFIDENCE WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG'S SUCCESS.

6. AS I HAVE SAID, WHAT IS AT STAKE IS THE CONTINUATION OF A

NOTABLY SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY. WE ARE THEREFORE COMMITTED TO

SEEKING A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE

OF HONG KONG. WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR TALKS WITH THE CHINESE IN

GOOD FAITH AND WITH A SENSE OF REALISM. FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

DOWN WE ARE DEEPLY CONSCIOUS OF HONG KONG'S CONCERNS AND ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

7. I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN BUILD ON OUR GOOD RELATIONSHIP

WITH CHINA AND OUR MUTUAL RESPECT TO WORK OUT TOGETHER A

SOLUTION WHICH WILL ACHIEVE THIS.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMINED

COPIES TO

STR IAN SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER

LEGAL ADVISER

MR BURROWS

HD/HKD

BD/FED

MR ROBERTS

HD/PLANNING STAFF

MR MARTIN

HD/PUSD

}}

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/FUS

MR FLOVER

MR COLES

NEWS D

SIR A PARSONS

MR WALKER

ASSESSMENTS STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

NO 10 DOWNING STREET RESEARCH D OAB 2/82

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

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