CONFIDENTIAL
6383
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PRESERVING TWO DIFFERENT POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
WITHIN ONE NATION HAS NO PRECEDENT. IT OFFERS AN IMAGINATIVE
RESPONSE TO THE SPECIAL HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.
THE CONCEPT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW APPARENTLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS
CAN, AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED.
8. 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 TODAY.
9.
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 COOPERATION OVER ITS
IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH OF OUR
POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO IT TODAY BY THE SIGNATURES THAT YOU, MR
PREMIER, AND I HAVE SET UPON IT. I AM HEARTENED BY THE ASSURANCE
WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY GIVEN THAT THE ARRANGEEENTS
FOR HONG KONG CONTAINED IN THE AGREEMENT ARE NOT MEASURES OF
EXPEDIENCY. THEY ARE OONG TERM POLICIES, WHICH WILL BE
INCORPORATED IN THE BASIC LAW FOR HONG KONG AND RRESERVED INTACT
FOR 50 YEARS FROM 1997.
10.
FOR MY PART I PLEDGE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL
IN ITS POWER TO MAKE THE AGREEMENT A SUCCESS. IT WILL BE OUR
PRIDE AND OUR PLEASURE TO ADMINISTER HONG KONG UP TO 30 JUNE 1997
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HIGHEST PRINCIPLES OF BRITISH
ADMINISTRATION. WE SHALL ADMNNISTER IT PRUDENTLY WITH FORESIGNT
AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE.
11.
THE NEGOTIATION ITSELF HAS BROUGHT OUR COUNTRIES CLOSER
TOGETHER. I AM CONVINCED THAT AS WE WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE
WE SHALL BE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR AN EVEN CLOSER AND DEEPER
RELATIONSHIP. THAT IS GOOD FOR BRITAIN: GOOD FOR CHINA: AND GOOD
FOR THE WORLD. IT IS ABOVE ALL GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TODAY TO TAKE PART WITH OUR CHINESE
12.
FRIENDS IN A UNIQUE OCCASION.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNIQUE, THE
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