TNAG-1373-FCO40-1819-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 12

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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 to 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.

first visit to Hong Kong in

my

I

This is my capacity as Minister responsible for the Territory. am very conscious of the special nature of my responsibilities: if there was any danger 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 very happy to be back here, and I

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 a tribute to the hard work and close cooperation between on the one side, the British and Hong Kong Governments, and on the other the People's Republic of I regard the role which UMELCO played in advising us during the negotiations as Together, and with good will on all sides, an agreement

China.

crucial.