TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 97

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MANY CHALLENGES: FOR US, FOR CHINA AND OF COURSE, FOR THE

PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING THESE NEGOTIATIONS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND

OF OUR FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

SEMI COLON AND WITH AN AGREED COMMON OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE THE

CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

6. IN THE SECOND, MORE DETAILED PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT BEGAN

IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, TEN ROUNDS OF INTENSIVE TALKS HAVE BEEN

HELD. THE ELEVENTH WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 26TH AND 27TH OF THIS

MONTH. THESE TALKS HAVE GONE AHEAD IN A USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE

MANNER. NEVERTHELESS, GREAT PATIENCE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED BY

BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO

ALL INVOLVED.

7. OUR DETERMINATION TO PRESS AHEAD AND TO REACH THAT GOAL IS

UNDIMINISHED. AND WE ARE GETTING ON WITH THE TALKS AS QUICKLY AS

WE CAN. BUT I CANNOT PREDICT PRECISELY HOW LONG THEY WILL TAKE.

8. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONGKONG OPINION,

NOTABLY THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHO WILL BE

VISITING LONDON AGAIN EARLY NEXT MONTH FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS

WITH MINISTERS. MY HON FRIEND, THE MEMBER FOR SHOREHAM, PAID

ANOTHER VERY USEFUL VISIT TO THE TERRITORY BETWEEN 25 AND 28 FEBRUARY, WHEN HE AGAIN MET REPRESENTATIVES OF A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL OPINION. THESE, AMONG OTHERS, INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND

DISTRICT BOARDS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

OF A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. SUCH VISITS ARE

AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF KEEPING IN CLOSE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH

OPINION IN HONG KONG.

9. I MYSELF SHALL BE VISITING CHINA IN MID-APRIL, FOR TALKS ON

HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE

LEADERS. FROM THERE I SHALL TRAVEL ON TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER

DISCUSSIONS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS.

WE

10. OUR PRESENT TASK, IN SHORT, IS TO EXAMINE WITH THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HOW THE NECESSARY CONTINUITY MAY BEST BE ASSURED.

ARE AND REMAIN OPEN TO ANY PROPOSALS WHICH WILL ENSURE THE

CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG SEMI COLON AND

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