TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 208

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17

For the

It is of course Parliament which must make the final decision.

Government's part I can assure the House that we are very much aware of the

. importance of getting the right agreement. We are not simply seeking

agreement for its own sake or at any price, nor would we be prepared to

recommend a package which we believe would be regarded as inadequate.

4907.

Let me sum up the position. I came away from Peking satisfied that a

good deal of progress had been made, but also aware that some major points

still needed to be resolved. There is in my view a determination on both

sides to bring our work to a successful conclusion. But a complex and

challenging stage in the negotiations still lies ahead and we have some way

to go before concluding an agreement. Our aim is clear: a binding agreement.

which will ensure a high degree of continuity for Hong Kong under Chinese

sovereignty which will preserve the essentials of the present systems and

in

way of life in Hong Kong, and which will be acceptable to the people of

Hong Kong, it must also be one which we can honourably commend to this House.

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