TNAG-1740-FCO40-2456-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-UK-Parliament-1988 — Page 58

PRESS SERVICE

RSORI

RECEIVED IN FEGISTRY

29 JUN 1987

DESK OFFICER,

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Verbatim Service then

file

VERBATIM SERVICE VS028/87

THURSDAY 25 JUNE 1987

PRODUCED BY LONDON PRESS SERVICE, CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION

:

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH ON THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, 25th JUNE, 1987

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons

I Look forward with great pleasure to receiving His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco, and His Excellency President Cossiga of Italy on State Visits this year. I also look forward to being present on the occasion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Canada in October and to visiting Australia in connection with the Bicentenary next year.

My Government will stand fully by their obligations to the NATO Alliance. They will sustain Britain's contribution to Western defence by modernising the independent nuclear deterrent through the introduction of the Trident submarine programme and by increasing the effectiveness of the nation's conventional forces.

My Government will strive for balanced and verifiable measures of arms control. They strongly support the United States' proposals for the elimination of intermediate range nuclear missiles, and 50 per cent reductions in American and Soviet strategic nuclear weapons. They will strive for a worldwide ban on chemical weapons. They will seek balanced reductions leading to lower levels of conventional forces throughout Europe and the elimination of disparities which threaten Western security.

My Government will work for greater trust and confidence between East and West and for progress, especially on human rights, at the Vienna Review Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

My Government will play a leading role in the development of the European Community while safeguarding Britain's essential national interests. They will work for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. They will press for strict controls on Community spending and the opening of the market in financial and other services. They will work with our European partners to defend our trading interests and to press for freer trade among all nations.

My Government will sustain the fight against international terrorism and trafficking in drugs. They will stand by their pledges to the people of the Falkland Islands, while seeking more normal relations with Argentina. They will fulfil their responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong and will continue to co-operate with the