CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
1972
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IT PERHAPS ALSO OFFERS AN EXAMPLE OF PRINCIPLE TO OTHER DIVIDED
NATIONS IN THE WORLD TODAY.
9. THE AGREEMENT IS A BASIS ON WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG
WILL BUILD. THEY WILL BRING TO THE TASK THE ENERGY, PERSISTENCE
AND DETERMINATION FOR WHICH THEY ARE RIGHTLY FAMOUS THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL MAKE HONG KONG AN EVEN
MORE FLOURISHING PLACE THAN IT IS NOW.
10. BRITAIN AND CHINA SHARE A CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAINTAIN THE CONDITIONS WITHIN WHICH. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN
REALISE THIS GOAL. WE HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION IN THIS SOLEMN
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. WE HAVE CREATED, IN THE SINO-BRITISH
JOINT LIAISON GROUP A FORUM FOR CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION OVER
ITS IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH OF OUR
POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO IT TODAY BY THE SIGNATURES THAT YOU, MR
REMIER, AND I HAVE SET UPON IT. I AM HEARTENED BY THE ASSURANCE
WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY GIVEN THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR HONG KONG CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT ARE NOT MEASURES OF
EXPEDIENCY. THEY ARE LONG TERM POLICIES, WHICH WILL BE
INCORPORATED IN THE BASIC LAW FOR HONG KONG AND PRESERVED INTACT
FOR 50 YEARS FROM 1997.
11. FOR MY PART I PLEDGE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL
IN ITS POWER TO MAKE THE AGREEMENT A SUCCESS. WE SHALL CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH HONG KONG WILL BE
ADMINISTERED UP TO 30 JUNE 1997. IT WILL BE ADMINISTERED
PRUDENTLY, WITH FORESIGHT AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE
PEOPLE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, SO THAT THE
AGREEMENT CAN BE PUT FULLY INTO EFFECT AND SO THAT THERE CAN BE A
SMOOTH TRANSITION IN 1997. ALTHOUGH AFTER THAT DATE THE DIRECT
LINK OF ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG WILL CEASE,
WE SHALL FOLLOW WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION AND SYMPATHY THE FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.
TRADE, INVESTMENT AND ALL THE COMPLEX NETWORK OF CULTURAL AND
PERSONAL TIES WILL CONTINUE TO LINK THE PEOPLES OF BRITAIN AND
HONG KONG.
12. THE NEGOTIATION ITSELF HAS BROUGHT OUR COUNTRIES CLOSER
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CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
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