TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 21

1992-12-04 18:51 COMMS OFFICE (GOVT HOUSE)

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DURING MY FOUR DAYS IN CANADA I MET MANY HONG KONG CANADIANS.

I WAS DREPLY IMPRESSED BY THE ADMIRATION AND GOODWILL THAT I FOUND FOR

HONG KONG, AND FOR ITS PEOPLE, AND I SHOULD LIKE

SHOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS

OPPORTUNITY, PUBLICLY, TO THANK THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR THE VERY

WARM RECEPTION WHICH THEY EXTENDED.

I VISITED LONDON FROM THE 16TH-20TH NOVEMBER, WHERE I HAD

MEETINGS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND OTHER

MINISTERS AS WELL AS WITH OFFICIALS. I ALSO SPOKE AT A VERY

SUCCESSFUL TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL DINNER, ADDRESSED THE BRITISH

HONG KONG

KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, AND HAD

HAD MEETINGS WITH OTHER

PARLIAMENTARIANS AND WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS ON THE POLICY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REMAINS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE FULL

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS,

WHICH WAS

SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION OF 1984. THAT POLICY WAS REAFFIRMED

IN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S MANIFESTO EARLIER THIS YEAR. IN CASE

THERE SHOULD BE ANY DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF ANYONE IN THIS COUNCIL, OR

OUTSIDE IT, LET ME CLEARLY STATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT STANDS FOURSQUARE BEHIND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S

PROPOSALS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG AND WILL CONTINUE

TO DO SO. BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY REPEATED

THAT SUPPORT PUBLICLY AND EXPLICITLY DURING MY VISIT.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RESOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS

SHOULD BE FAIR, SHOULD BE OPEN, AND SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE

OF HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT RESOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE HONG

KONG GOVERNMENT'S FIRM CONVICTION THAT OUR PROPOSALS ARE FAIR AND

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