TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 115

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DRAFT "SHORT" SPEECH FOR MR RENTON TO DELIVER IN HONG

KONG ON 30 OCTOBER AT DINNER HOSTED BY UMELCO, IN REPLY

TO SIR S Y CHUNG

May I say to start with how delighted I am to be in Hong Kong on a day which has seen the opening of the

first session of

the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

include elected members. This is indeed an occasion

to be remembered. It marks an important step in the

development of representative government in Hong Kong.

to

This is my

capacity as Minister as Minister

am very conscious

responsibilities:

first visit to

responsible for the Territory.

Hong Kong

in

my

I

of nature

my

of the special

i f there was any danger of

of my not

being aware of them, it was removed by the very flattering degree of attention given to my appointment by your active and imaginative press. One enterprising

reporter even managed to telephone me in hospital the

day after my recent operation!

I am

am very happy to be

back here, and I hope that this is only the first of

many visits.

I watched with admiration the successful

negotiation of the Agreement which was, and continues

to be, a tribute to the hard work and close cooperation

between оп the one side, the British and Hong Kong

Governments, and on the other the People's Republic of

UMELCO played

China.

I

the regard

role which

in

advising Us during the negotiations as crucial. Together, and with good will on all sides, an agreement