TNAG-2460-FCO40-3581-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1992-1992 — Page 85

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

FOREWORD

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ANNUAL REPORT: DRAFT FORWARD_

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X. 1991 was an important and eventful year for Hong Kong.

Two major achievements stand out.

X. First, we secured Chinese support for the new Airport Project. I went to Peking in April to try to improve our cooperation with China over Hong Kong After further rounds of talks, we were able to publish in July a Memorandum of Understanding, which the Prime Minister signed on 3 September during his visit to Peking. This is a good

Agreement. It puts in place workable arrangements for

consultation with China, while leaving decision-making where it belongs, with the Hong Kong Government. A new airport is urgently needed if Hong Kong is to keep its place as a dynamic regional centre. Work is now moving ahead fast, with the aim of completing the project as far as possible by 1997. Since the signing of the MOU, cooperation with China on airport matters has been smooth. The result has been a welcome bedst to business confidence in Hong Kong, going

well beyond the Airport Project.

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The Prime Minister also secured agreement/ during his visit to Peking (o the objective of more effective Sino- British cooperation on other Hong Kong matters. In particular, we have agreed to accelerate the work of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, in order to ensure a smooth transfer of sovereignty in 1997. The Chinese also agreed to my proposal for six monthly meetings of Foreign Ministers to review and, where necessary, stimulate

progress. We now look to the Chinese side to join us in

translating these undertakings into practical results in the Joint Liaison Group.

The second landmark of 1991 was the holding in

September of the first direct elections to Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo). The election campaign was

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