TNAG-1311-FCO40-1673-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 81

STATEMENT BY SIR S.Y. CHUNG DURING THE MEETING WITH THE

PRIME MINISTER 5.12.84

Prime Minister,

On

Thank you first of all for making yourself available in your

busy schedule to see us. My colleagues and I are grateful

to you for agreeing to go to Beijing to sign the Agreement

and for the personal interest that you have shown throughout

the negotiations about the future of Hong Kong. This has

been a source of great comfort and reassurance to us.

this important date when the British Parliament will discuss

the Draft Agreement, I should like to pay tribute to you,

Prime Minister for the determination, commitment and sense

of resolve you have demonstrated in the last two years. I

would also like to thank Sir Geoffrey Howe whose two visits

to China marked the turning points at crucial times during these difficult negotiations. And of course, we thank the

Govenor of Hong Kong, Sir Edward Youde, Sir Percy Cradock,

your special adviser, Sir Richard Evans, HMG's Ambassador in

Beijing Mr. Richard Luce, Dr. David Wilson and all the

many members of the British team who have demonstrated such

singleness of purpose in reaching a settlement.

You will be aware, Prime Minister, that with the exception

of two Members, all the Members of UMELCO have commended the

Agreement to the people of Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong, as usual, have demonstrated their realistic

commonsense and have accepted the Agreement as a whole.

There is no doubt that the majority of the community

consider the Agreement a good one, providing a blueprint for

their future, to which they will do their part to keep stable and prosperous.