macpendice,
have never disputed, ninety two percent of its territory will revert to China on 1 July 1997. The remaining eight per cent could never be viable on its own. These are objectives realised of history and geography that cannot simply be ignored. We negotiated long and
hard with China to ensure that Hong Kong reverts to China on the
best possibl terms.
What Britain achieved in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 was agreement on very specific arrangements for Hong Kong's future which would preserve its basic freedoms and way of life for at least 50 years after 1997. Our task now is to ensure that the safeguards in the Joint Declaration remain real and credible and that the
The Chinese undertakings given in that agreement are honoured. leadership have repeatedly confirmed their commitment to the Joint Declaration and to the concept of "one country, two systems". is something we welcome.
This
The destiny of Hong Kong is inevitably bound up with the destiny of China. Any viable future for Hong Kong must depend on successful and secure co-existance with China.
the Joint Declaration
That objective is enshrined in
interest.
success.
The firmest guarantee of any agreement is that it is based on common
China has a massive interest in Hong Kong's continuing Hong Kong provides one-third of its foreign exchange
It is China's earnings and two-thirds of its foreign investment. largest trading partner and its gateway to the whole international system. That huge stake has not been diminished by recent events
in China.
Our relations with China are undoubtedly going through a difficult
There period.
It is right that we should seek to rebuild them. must be a continuous dialogue with the Chinese Government about all aspects of Hong Kong's future.
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