TNAG-1623-FCO40-2237-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 240

DRAFT SPEECH FOR SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FAREWELL DINNER

PARTY FOR CHINESE AMBASSADOR

Your Excellency, Madame Xie, Ladies and Gentleman

[Your Excellency,

You were first posted to London when you were half

your currernt age. Between then and now, you have honoured us by working for Sino-British relations for the

best part of 12 years, a significant period in the

Chinese calendar]

Hong Kongy

You

We in Britain pride ourselves on pragmatism.

have a similar tradition: Confucius said "A gentleman is

ashamed to let his words outrun his deeds". This mutual

spirit of determination to achieve practical results

allowed us to reach agreement in 1984 on Hong Kong.

Since signature in 1984 much has been done to implement the agreement and thus ensure smooth transition

in 1997. However much remains to be done. For our part

we remain firmly committed to the principles of the agreement, to their implementation and thus to the maintenance of security and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Bilateral Agreements

Although Hong Kong is the cornerstone of the

excellent relations which exist between our two

countries, you have helped to bring about many other developments during your time in London.

Several

agreements have been signed, on economic cooperation, on

the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, on investment

promotion and protection, and now most recently on

FC2ACK

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