TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 92

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19. ON NATIONALITY QUESTIONS FOR INSTANCE.

BUT WE HAVE FOUND A

WAY TO ALLOW PRESENT BENEFITS TO BE PRESERVED THROUGHOUT THE LIVES

OF ALL THOSE BORN BEFORE JULY 1997.

20. I KNOW YOU ARE ANXIOUS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES MAY NOT ACCEPT

THE NEW PASSPORTS AFTER 1997. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REGARDS IT

AS PART OF ITS CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG TO EXPLAI

TO ALL THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE NO

JUSTIFICATION TO IMPOSE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF ENTRY

OF HONG KONG PEOPLE HOLDING THE NEW FORM OF PASSPORT.

21. I BELIEVE WE SHALL RECEIVE THE NECESSARY CO-OPERATION: I AM

VERY STRUCK BY THE WARM INTERNATIONAL RECEPTION WHICH HAS BEEN

GIVEN TO THIS AGREEMENT.

22.

ANOTHER CONCERN IS THE BASIC LAW. I FULLY AGREE ABOUT ITS

IMPORTANCE. THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH

STIPULATE THAT THE VERY FULL AND DETAILED PROVISIONS IN THE JOIN

DECLARATION AND ITS FIRST ANNEX WILL BE EMBODIED IN THE BASIC

LAW.

23. MY DISCUSSIONS IN PEKING HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BASIC LAW,

AND OF THE CONCERN IN HONG KONG THAT PEOPLE HERE SHOULD BE

CONSULTED ABOUT IT.

24. (OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) CHINESE LEADERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR

THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY INTEND TO IMPLEMENT BOTH THE

SPIRIT AS WELL AS THE LETTER OF THE AGREEMENT. ADD OR SUBSTITUT

ANY ASSURANCE OBTAINED IN THE VISIT. (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS).

25. UNTIL 1997 BRITAIN REMAINS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG.

26.

WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE

TERRITORY. NOW THAT THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, I PLEDGE HER

MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S EARNEST EFFORTS IN THE YEARS TO 1997 TO

ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO HAVE A STABLE AND RESPONSIVE

GOVERNMENT, ADMINISTERING THE TERRITORY IN THE INTERESTS AND

WISHES OF ITS PEOPLE.

27.

DURING THAT TIME YOU WILL WANT AND NEED MOVEMENT TOWARDS

MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. HONG KONG PEOPLE MUST BE ABLE T

ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUNNING THEIR OWN AFFAIRS WITHIN THE

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