Similar sentiments were voiced by the Lords when that
December 1984.
House debated the draft Agreement on 10th
Baroness Young, replying for the administration, said: "Almost
all of your Lordships referred to the important question of
constitutional development in Hong Kong up to 1997. I fully
accept the legitimate concerns which have been expressed that we
should develop a solidly based democratic administration in Hong
Kong in the period up to 1997."
Following
upon
Parliament's
acceptance of the
draft Agreement,
it was signed in Beijing by Mrs. Margaret
Thatcher on behalf of Britain. On 21st December 1984, after
coming to Hong Kong from Beijing, she met the press and gave the
following public assurances:
...
"It is the beginning of a new period in Hong Kong's
history You have my absolute assurance that Britain
will administer Hong Kong wisely and well between now
and 1997. We shall honour our obligations to the full
long before 1997 we have steadily and securely to
increase the amount of representation of local people
in the government of Hong Kong."
...
Thus, it was
on the undertaking that there would be a
speedy development of a solidly based democratic administration
in Hong Kong that Parliament accepted the Agreement. At that
point, the British Administration, Parliament and the people of
Hong Kong were of one mind.
As for the respective roles of China and the United
Kingdom in Hong Kong during the run-up to 1997, the Agreement
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