TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 30

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those talks, it was

our intention to remove the

That

uncertainty over the future of the territory.

remains our intention. The uncertainty arises from the

fact that the lease on 92 percent of the territory is

due to expire in 1997. It was and still is our intention

to work out arrangements for the future that will be in

the best interests of the people of Hong Kong. The

expiry of the lease is a fact we could not and cannot

ignore.

I want to emphasise that throughout the talks we

have kept in close contact with the Governor and with

members of the Executive Council. Through them,

through the Legislative Council, and through visits

to Hong Kong by British Ministers (most recently by

Mr Luce), we have kept in touch with a wide range of

opinion here. The hopes and aspirations of the people

of Hong Kong have been very much in our minds.

chief concern has been to preserve the way of life of

Hong Kong, a way of life which lies at the heart of

the territory's success. We know that the preservation

of that way of life depends upon continuity:

Our

continuity

in the essentials of the Legal, economic, social and

administrative systems: and maintenance of the freedoms

that people in Hong Kong now enjoy.

I spoke about this in a debate in the House of

Commons only a few weeks ago. I pointed out then that

continuity in Hong Kong is at present assured by

/British

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