TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 118

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Governor of Hong Kong is in London this week, and my

discussions with him will include this important

We shall also thereafter need to discuss

subject.

practicalities

shall

issue.

further with the Chinese Government. I

inform the House in due course of progress on this

We have negotiated a satisfactory agreement for the

future of Hong Kong. We have had ample demonstration

that it is acceptable to this House and to the people who live there. We now need to move rapidly to ratify

and implement the agreement SO that the renewed

confidence that has been established in the territory

with the publication of the agreement and

and its signature

can be secured and strengthened.

As I have explained to the House, paragraph 8 of

the Joint Declaration provides that instruments of ratification shall be exchanged before 30 June 1985. It is very much in the interests of the United Kingdom and

of Hong Kong that

should make as rapid progress possible with this Bill to enable us to meet that date.

we

The Bill is short and

strongly commend it to the House.

straightforward.

as

I