TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 86

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11. I SHOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY RECALLING THE OBJECTIVE WHICH WE AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SET OURSELVES AT THE OUTSET OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. OUR COMMON AIM WAS TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. IT IS WORTH REMINDING OURSELVES OF WHAT THESE OFTEN REPEATED WORDS MEAN FOR THE DAILY LIVES OF ORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN. STABILITY MEANS THE ASSURANCE THAT PEOPLE MAY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES IN SECURITY AND FREEDOM: THAT THE IR ADMINISTRATION WILL BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY AND WILL PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL SOCIAL AND PUBLIC SERVICES: AND THAT THEY MAY BOTH SEEK AND FIND REDRESS FOR ANY WRONG, WHETHER PERPETRATED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR BY THE GOVERNMENT. PROSPERITY MEANS THE RIGHT TO WORK AND TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF ONE'S LABOURS, TO OWN AND DISPOSE OF PROPERTY AND THE RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE POLICIES DESIGNED TO FOSTER ENTERPRISE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THESE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG LIFE ARE PROVIDED FOR IN DETAIL IN THE AGREEMENT.

12. A MAJOR TASK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT. BUT THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD. I SHOULD LIKE TO RENEW THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE TASKS WHICH LIE AHEAD AND TO THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG, I APPEAL TO YOU AND THROUGH YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE IN HONG KONG TO SHOULDER WITH CONFIDENCE THE RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH FACE YOU AND TO GRASP THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH LIE AHEAD, SO THAT TOGETHER WE MAY CONTINUE THE TASK OF BUILDING A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR HONG KONG.

ENDS

YOUDE

FUTURE EGRET

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MR WILSON

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MR BURROWS MR FIFOOT

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