ROZAMN
HONG KONG : BULL POINTS
Question in 1984 was not whether Hong Kong would revert to China in 1997 but on what terms. We negotiated long and hard to secure best possible terms.
When we embarked on the negotiations, almost inconceivable that Communist China could have been made to sign an internationally binding agreement which stipulates that socialism will not be practised in Hong Kong for at least 50 years and which assures the continuation of Hong Kong's capitalist system and way of life.
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No less remarkable that China should now be drafting a basic law for Hong Kong, meticulous in detail and comprehensive in scope, designed to give legal effect to assurances of Joint Declaration. Have conducted fruitful dialogue with Chinese about the draft. Not yet quite right but opportunities for further improvement.
Joint Declaration not relegated to history: constant point of reference in all our discussions with Chinese. Everything which we have agreed with Chinese about Hong Kong's future consistent with provisions of Joint Declaration.
Firmly committed to steady development of representative government in Hong Kong. Remarkable progress already made. Confident that by 1997 Hong Kong will have a well established system of representative government capable of further steady development in subsequent years. Draft Basic Law enshrines
principle of universal suffrage.
Hong Kong's booming economy a measure of the success of the Joint Declaration and its implementation so far. Over 30% economic growth in past three years alone. Buoyant inward investment. Ambitious development projects.
UK visible exports to Hong Kong in 1988 worth over £1 billion.
UK invisible earning worth a further £1 billion. Evidence of our
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