TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 9

UMELCO

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CBE, JP

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 27.11.85

Policy Debate 1985

Sir,

I lay on the table for the record a copy of my 10-point election manifesto on which I was elected to the

Legislative Council.

During the 1985/86 session, I intend to give top priority to cooperating closely with my fellow Councillors in ensuring that the work for which LegCo is responsible

proceeds smoothly and beneficially for all. As Your Excellency so aptly put it, "all of us have a common responsibility to the community as a whole".

We have less than three years to prepare ourselves for the next round of wider representative government. During this period, Councillors will have to prove both to local citizens and to the world that we have the capability of governing ourselves in accordance with the spirit and

terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

It is an unprecedented challenge but I believe that

we can fulfil this historic task. Confidence in ourselves and faith in the future of China and Hong Kong will ensure a smooth transition by 1997 and into the 21st century.

Some people, both local and abroad, with interests in Hong Kong are concerned that China will not maintain its

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