TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 251

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CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY

OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN

PEKING, 19 DECEMBER

1. Your Excellency President Li Xiannian, Your Excellency Premier Zhao Ziyang, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

2.

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 firm basis for confidence in Hong Kong up to 1997 and beyond, and for its continued stability, prosperity and growth.

3. I remember with pleasure my last visit to China in

September 1982 and my discussions with Chinese leaders.

At

my 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.

is with very great satisfaction that I now return to sign

the agreement which is the result of those talks.

It

CONFIDENTIAL