JH 2ADU
CONFIDENTIAL
SPEAKING NOTE FOR THE VISIT TO HONG KONG
BY STATE COUNCILLOR JI PENGFEI
1.
Pleased that Mr Ji is making this visit. He is a most welcome
guest. Sure that he will find a warm welcome.
2.
Hong Kong is a place which can only be understood properly by seeing it at first hand. Reading about Hong Kong on paper cannot convey a complete picture.
3.
Joint Declaration was warmly received in Hong Kong. There was relief and pleasure that the historical problem had been resolved.
The agreement also held ou t the exciting prospect
of asurances of
continuity in the economic and social systems based on a promise of
a high degree of autonomy.
This symbolised the far-sighted recognition by the Chinese Government that Hong Kong's usefulness
China and the well-being of its population depended on maintaining
its free market economy and a way of
life very different from that
on
the mainland.
•
4.
The
agreement provided a solid basis for th_e fulfilment of
these promises.
But there is still
a great deal of work to do
before the people of Hong Kong can be satisfied that the enterprise
will succeed.
5.
is
War,
a
centres.
Most obvious quality of Hong Kong is its dynamism. Hong Kon
rapidly evolving society. In 40 years since the Second Work
Hong Kong
Kong has developed from a virtually ruined trading pos
in to one of the world's major manufacturing trading and finan ol
Population risen from 600,000 to 5.3 million.
organisation of government and people's attitudes to it have evolved considerably during this period. British responsibility
the administration of Hong Kong, which under Article IV of the
Declaration will continue until 1997, has been exercised IE
and a sense of responsibility. There has been a progressive pr
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