TNAG-2007-FCO40-2855-Address-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--at-the-o-1990 — Page 73

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PART OF THE LONG-TERM EXPANSION WHICH MUST BE STARTED NOW IF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION IS TO BE GIVEN THE BEST

POSSIBLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

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97. THE WORKING ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN OURSELVES AND CHINA HAS IMPROVED DURING THE YEAR. THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MET IN SEPTEMBER AND MADE PROGRESS ON SOME OF THE MATTERS IT IS HANDLING. IT HAS A GREAT DEAL OF IMPORTANT WORK TO DO IN THE YEARS AHEAD. FOLLOWING THE UNDERSTANDING REACHED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHICH WILL ALLOW THE 1995 LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE BEYOND 1997, WE NOW NEED TO PLAN FOR THE CONTINUITY OF DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION. THERE ARE MANY COMPLEX LEGAL MATTERS TO BE SORTED OUT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AFFECTING HONG KONG, THE LOCALISATION OF LAWS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEY ELEMENTS OF ITS ECONOMIC LIFE, SUCH AS AIR- SERVICE AGREEMENTS. THE CONTINUITY OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS ANOTHER AREA OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG

AFTER 1997. WE NEED TO GET IN PLACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING

IN HONG KONG OUR OWN COURT OF FINAL APPEAL. SO THERE IS MUCH TO

DO, AND A NEED TO TACKLE IT QUICKLY, PRAGMATICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

98. AS WE GET NEARER TO 1997, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS WELL INFORMED ON IMPORTANT MATTERS OF POLICY WHICH WILL EXTEND BEYOND 1997. FOR

CHINESE LEADERS TO HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HONG KONG WORKS, WHAT THE KEY PRIORITIES ARE AND HOW WE GO ABOUT TAKING DECISIONS, WILL BE HELPFUL TO HONG KONG BOTH NOW AND AFTER 1997. AN INCREASE IN THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION IN THIS WAY SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS GIVING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT A VETO OVER DECISIONS WHICH ARE PROPERLY FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO TAKE. THEY HAVE NOT SOUGHT THIS: NOR WOULD I EXPECT THEM TO DO SO. THE EXTENSIVE AUTONOMY IN MANY FIELDS WHICH HONG KONG NOW ENJOYS IS OF LONG STANDING. ITS CONTINUATION AFTER 1997 IS GUARANTEED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASIC LAW. MEANWHILE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO GIVE ITS CO-OPERATION TO BRITAIN IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG

KONG UP TO THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE AIM TO IMPROVE CONSULTATION, ACHIEVE A GREATER EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND BUILD UP BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES.

99. WE ALREADY HAVE EXTENSIVE CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE

AUTHORITIES AT THE WORKING LEVEL ON SPECIFIC MATTERS SUCH AS

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