TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 196

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Inescapably, the future has to be seen against

the background of one all-important fact - the fact

that 92 per cent of the land area is held under a

lease which expires in 1997. That reality, which no-one

can ignore, means that the future of Hong Kong is

inseparably bound up with the great and historic nation

that is China.

In that situation, the future of a unique society

calls for a unique solution. That is why we have

for the last eighteen months been engaged with the

Chinese Government in the task of exploring, years in

advance, what arrangements can best secure the future of

the territory. Perhaps the most encouraging feature

of this joint endeavour is that the two governments share

a common objective the objective of reaching an

agreement which will ensure the stability and prosperity

of Hong Kong. The Chinese government have many times

made it clear that that is their purpose. And it is,

of course, our own.

The outcome of these negotiations will affect

most of all the people of Hong Kong. It is matural

that they should be anxious. I fully understand their

very real concern.