TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 6

SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON HONG KONG: 16 MAY 1984

SECRET

1.

I am very glad that we have the opportunity tonight to debate the important issue of Hong Kong's future.

It is a matter of prime concern to Her Majesty's Government, demanding of our negotiators exceptional skill

and imagination.

2. The discussion of Hong Kong's future confronts the Government with a unique task. Many of the Hon members

present tonight have visited the territory and know it well. I therefore need not recall in detail the

unique conjunction of history and geography that has fashioned Hong Kong. Over almost a century and a

half a diverse community has grown and flourished there. British administration, in partnership with Chinese

energy and creativity, has secured for Hong Kong an economic influence in the world out of all proportion to

its size. Her Majesty's Government feel a strong sense of pride in the achievements of this community and a

strong sense of responsibility for its future.

3.

And for the future of a unique community, it is necessary to visualise unique arrangements, we have to

see the problem against the background of the lease covering 92% of the territory which expires in 1997. We

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SECRET