4-28
GRS 450
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 1710OOZ FCO
TELNO 1851
CONFIDENTIAL
OF 170905Z DEC 85
INFO DESKBY 17100OZ HONG KONG
TOP COPY
430)
HRR 011/1
RECSIVAL
2 3 DEC 1985
AB 23
MIPT: LUNCH WITH ZHOU NAN: MY SPEECH
BEGINS
1. MR VICE-MINISTER, MAY I FIRST THANK YOU WARMLY FOR ENTERTAINING
ME AND SO MANY OF MY STAFF TO THIS EXCELLENT LUNCH. FOR US ALL,
19 DECEMBER IS INDEED A MEMOPABLE DAY. LIKE YOU, I REMEMBER VERY
CLEARLY THE CEREMONY EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO AT WHICH OUR HEADS
OF GOVERNMENT SIGNED THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF
HONG KONG.
2. THAT AGREEMENT, WHICH BOTH OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE SINCE REGISTERED AT THE UNITED NATIONAS, PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH HONG KONG WILL MAINTAIN ITS ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND WAY OF LIFE FOR 50 YEARS AFTER THE 1 JULY 1997 AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
3. A YEAR ON FROM THAT OCCASION WE MAY SEE THAT THE SIGNING OF
THE JOINT DECLARATION DID MUCH TO RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, WHO FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS HAD FELT
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HELD IN STORE.
4.
DURING THAT YEAR, AND IN PARTICULAR SINCE YOU AND I EXCCHANGED INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION ON 27 MAY THIS YEAR, THUS BRINGING THE
JOINT DECLARATION INTO FORCE OUR TWO COUNTRIES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
IN THE TASK OF IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION WITH THE COMMON
AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG.
THE TWO MEETING OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE SIX
MEETINGS OF THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE
SO FAR HAVE ALL BEEN CONDUCTED IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. THE TWO
SIDES HAVE GOT DOWN TO THE TASK IN HAND WITH EFFICIENCY AND WITH
PRAGMATISM. AS A RESULT, PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN ROTH BODIES
CCNFIDENTIAL
/IN. !
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