TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 176

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JUSTICE, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ORDER IN THE TERRITORY. UNDER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE WRITTEN AND COMMON LAW, WOULD BE BASED UPON THE PRESENT SYSTEM: HONG KONG WOULD MANAGE ITS OWN PUBLIC FINANCES WITHIN WHICH TAXES LEVIED IN HONG KONG WOULD, AS NOW, BE EMPLOYED IN HONG KONG FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. THERE WOULD ALSO BE A PLACE FOR OUTSIDE PEOPLE, FOR BRITAIN AND ELSEWHERE, TO GO ON WORKING AND MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO LIFE IN HONG KONG. WHAT IS OF

PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IS THAT UNDER SUCH ARRANGEMENTS HONG KONG

WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND

COMMERCIAL CENTRE AS IT DOES TODAY. HONG KONG'S EXTENSIVE AND

DIRECT ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH ITS TRADING PARTERS ALL OVER THE

WORLD WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AND TO DEVELOP. ARRANGEMENTS

WOULD NEED TO BE MADE IN CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

· CONCERNED, TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG REMAINED AN IMPORTANT

PARTICIPANT IN REGIONAL AND WORLD ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND IN

PARTICULAR, THE G A T T.

9. IN THIS CONTEXT I SHOULD EMPHASISE THE HIGH DEGREE OF

AUTONOMY ALREADY EXERCISED TODAY BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF THE TERRITORY IS DETERMINED BY DECISIONS

TAKEN IN HONG KONG, NOT IN LONDON. THOSE WHO LIVE IN HONG kong AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DEALINGS WITH THE TERRITORY WILL BE

LOOKING FOR ASSURANCE THAT SUCH AUTONOMY WILL BE MAINTAINED AFTER

1997. THAT ASSURANCE CAN BEST BE PROVIDED BY A DETAILED AND

BINDING AGREEMENT CLEARLY DESCRIBING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.

10.

A RELATED POINT IS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION OF

HONG KONG WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF LOCAL PEOPLE. THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR PUBLICLY THAT AFTER 1997 HONG KONG

PEOPLE WILL ADMINISTER HONG KONG. THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE

PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG WHICH IS ALREADY

UNDER WAY, AND WHICH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERMENT FULLY ENDORSE. AT

THE LOCAL LEVEL IN HONG KONG PROPOSALS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MADE

WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING ELECTED ELEMENT IN GOVERNMENT.

AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE PUBLISHING IN THE SUMMER A

GREEN PAPER SETTING OUT PROPOSALS WHEREBY THE REPRESENTATIVE

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