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.
two
This is an historic occasion. The Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong, which we have just signed on behalf of our 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.
3.
At my
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.
4.
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. There were moments of tension. To overcome these
difficulties we needed to draw on a shared fund of goodwill; on friendship; and on a common commitment to Hong Kong's future. This was what made success possible. I should like to pay tribute to the dedication of the two negotiating teams and all their supporting personnel, under the guidance of Sir Geoffrey Howe and State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian. It is thanks to the imagination and resource which they showed that we can sign an agreement today.
5.
The agreement fully meets the political requirements of Britain and China, as well as the interests of the Hong Kong people. It provides the framework in which, as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong will maintain its economic system and way of life for 50 years after
CONFIDENT I AL
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