TNAG-1717-FCO40-2397-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 151

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

L

VMOV

UVC

L

UJJJ 7.04

3-

Ching.

That is by way of context.

I should now like to

turn to the subject of Hong Kong's relationship with This, after all, is the hot topic at the root of much of the recent political debate. Like a lot of debate on hot topics, I am afraid, it tends to generate more heat than light.

Let us first consider the facts.

Hong Kong is indisputably a Chinese city. It is ethnically and geographically part of China. Its progress and its prosperity are largely the result of the energy, talent and hard work of its Chinese population. But the Indispensable foundation for this success has been the rule of law, based on the British common law system. This has

given everyone in Hong

Hong Kong 0 reasonable degree of certainty in their relations with those in authority, and a credible guarantee that their right to life, liberty and the enjoyment of the fruits of their labours will not be arbitrarily withdrawn.

it has always been,

Hong Kong is governed now as

as it

on the fundamental principle of the rule of law. It will

continue to be the fundamental principle of British

Furthermore, its survival after 1997 is

administration.

set out clearly in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the main theme of which is the preservation of those areas of

organization that distinguish

legal, social and economic organization

Hong Kong from China.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.