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8. WE WERE DETERMINED TO DO ALL WE COULD TO PRESERVE WHAT THEY
HAVE BUILT ON WHAT WAS ONCE ONLY A BARREN ROCK. WE SOUGHT A
REALISTIC FRAMEWORK, ONE WHICH TOOK ACCOUNT OF CHINESE INTERESTS
9. BUT AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND WE SOUGHT ARRANGEMENTS WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE ASSURANCES THAT HONG KONG
PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS AND APPLY THEIR
ENERGY: THAT WHAT I WOULD CALL HONG KONG'S GENIUS COULD CONTINUE
TO FLOURISH AND THAT IT COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO
THE DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNISATION OF CHINA AS A WHOLE.
10.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE HAVE SECURED SUCH ARRANGEMENTS AND THAT
THE AGREEMENT IS A GOOD ONE.
11.
IT PROVIDES IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AND IN BINDING FORM FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO YOUR
UNIQUE SOCIETY.
12. AS A RESULT, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN, I BELIEVE, FACE
THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE.
13. THE ASSESSMENT HAS SHOWN THAT THEY REGARD THE AGREEMENT AS
WHOLE AS ACCEPTABLE. THE PROCESS OF ASSESSMENT WAS REAL AND IT
IS IMPORTANT. PARLIAMENT WOULD HAVE EXPECTED NO LESS BEFORE
APPROVING THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
14. I WELCOME THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT HAS
GIVEN A CLEAR ACCOUNT OF THE RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS WHICH
PEOPLE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY FEEL ON INDIVIDUAL POINTS. THIS WIL
BE OF GREAT VALUE TO US WHEN WE BEGIN THE TASK OF PUTTING THE
AGREEMENT INTO EFFECT.
15. THE SUCCESS OF ANY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF COURSE DEPEND
ON THE GOOD FAITH AND COMMITMENT OF THE SIGNATORIES.
16.
I BRING TO YOU THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE COMMITMENT ON THE PAR
OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT. WE SHALL DO OUR UTMOST TO ENSURE
THAT THE AGREEMENT WORKS.
17. AND I BRING FROM MY TALKS IN PEKING WITH THE MOST SENIOR
CHINESE LEADERS A SIMILAR COMMITMENT. THEY ASSURED ME FOR THEIR
PART THAT THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENTED. (OPEN
SQUARE BRACKETS) INSERT ANY USABLE QUOTATION FROM THE DISCUSSION
IN PEKING (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS).
18.
OF COURSE YOU STILL HAVE YOUR CONCERNS. I UNDERSTAND THEM.
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