4. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY THERE SHOULD BE ANY QUARREL WITH THAT PROPOSITION. IT IS FULLY ACCEPTED THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE TALKS IN PEKING IS A MATTER FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, MINISTERS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAVE REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT
THEY HAVE ALSO FORMALLY STATED THAT THEIR AIM IS TO SEEK A SETTLE- MENT WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
5. AS PARTY OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION YOU, SIR, AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE VISITED LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND OTHER MINISTERS THREE TIMES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS: AND MINISTERS HAVE REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL INFORMED AND TO RECEIVING ITS ADVICE.
6. DURING THESE VISITS TO LONDON, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS AND THOSE OF THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DIRECTLY KNOWN TO BRITISH MINISTERS. THEY HAVE DONE SO AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF WIDE AND INTENSE PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE FUTURE, AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPINIONS AND CONCERNS CONVEYED TO THEM BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGH THE MANY CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM. THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAS ALSO VISITED HONG KONG TWICE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO HEAR AT FIRST HAND THE VIEWS OF A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE. AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HOPES HIMSELF TO VISIT HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
7. THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THE GENERAL WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AS YOU, SIR, PUT IT IN YOUR LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE IS, IN ESSENCE, THE CONTINUATION OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE. AS MR LOBO SAID, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PRESENT LIFE-STYLE AND FOR CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS WHICH PRESERVE THEIR PRESENT FREEDOMS. THAT IS THE OUTCOME WHICH THEY WISH TO SEE FROM THE TALKS NOW BEING CONDUCTED IN PEKING. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MANY PEOPLE, IN MANY FORUMS, HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN ELABORATION OF THAT MESSAGE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS COUNCIL. THIS DEBATE HAS GIVEN THEM A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR VIEWS TO THOSE EXPRESSED BY MANY OTHERS, ON THE FACTORS WHICH THEY BELIEVE MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF THE EVENTUAL ARRANGEMENT IS TO SERVE THE
BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
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