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CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
1972 1
-
DD 27010OZ PEKING
GRS 1054
CONFIDENTIAL
FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 270100Z TO BOTH
FM FCO 261700Z NOVEMBER 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2345 OF 26 NOVEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FUTURE EGRET: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT
HKCK 040/57.
RECEIVEL REGISTRY
27 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
w
en
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF DRAFT SPEECH FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO
MAKE AT THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY ON 19 DECEMBER. GRATEFUL FOR ANY
COMMENTS BY 280900Z.
BEGINS.
2. YOUR EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT LI XIANNIAN, YOUR EXCELLENCY
PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG, YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
3. THIS IS AN HISTORIC OCCASION. THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG WHICH WE HAVE JUST SIGNED ON BEHALF OF OUR
TWO GOVERNMENTS, IS A LANDMARK IN THE LIFE OF THE TERRITORY: IN
THE COURSE OF ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS: AND IN THE HISTORY OF
INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY. THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A BASIS FOR
CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG UP TO 1997 AND BEYOND, AND FOR ITS
CONTINUED STABILITY, PROSPERITY AND GROWTH.
4. I REMEMBER WITH PLEASURE MY LAST VISIT TO CHINA IN
SEPTEMBER 1982 AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS.
MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING ON THAT OCCASION WE AGREED TO
OPEN TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. OUR COMMON AIM WAS TO
MAINTAIN THE TERRITORY'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. IT IS WITH
VERY GREAT SATISFACTION THAT I NOW RETURN TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT
WHICH IS THE RESULT OF THOSE TALKS.
AT MY
5. I THINK YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOT ALWAYS
EASY. AT CERTAIN POINTS THERE WERE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BE
MADE ON BOTH SIDES AND THERE WERE MOMENTS OF TENSION. TO
OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES WE NEEDED TO DRAW ON THE FUND OF
GOODWILL, FRIENDSHIP AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG'S
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CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
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