TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

(B) PRINCE CHARLES' SPEECH:

QUOTE WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY AT AN HISTORIC MOEMENT OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. THE PRESENCE OF SO MANY LEADERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THIS EVENT BY THE IR PEOPLES, WHO HAVE FOLLOWED WITH INCREASING HOPE THE PROCESS OF A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT. I AM DELIGHTED AND HONOURED, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, TO JOIN WITH YOU IN CELEBRATING ON THIS DAY THE

INDEPENDENCE OF ZIMBABWE.

ZIMBABWE HAS REACHED INDEPENDENCE IN THE FACE OF MANY DIFFICULTIES. IN MEETING THESE TROUBLES THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE SHOWN GREAT COURAGE, DETERMINATION AND ADAPTABILITY. IT IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND A TRIBUTE TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN IT TO HAVE BROUGHT ZIMBABWE TO INDEPENDENCE IN CONDITIONS OF PEACE. THERE HAS BEEN SUFFERING AND SORROW IN THE PAST YEARS, BUT THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION WITH WHICH YOU HAVE JOINED TOGETHER IN RECENT WEEKS TO FACE THE FUTURE SHOULD BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS. THERE COULD BE NO FIRMER FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES WHICH LIE AHEAD OF YOUR COUNTRY.

I SHOULD LIKE, MR PRESIDENT, TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE FOR THE WELCOME AND THE WARM HOSPITALITY YOU HAVE SO GENEROUSLY GIVEN TO ME. I SHALL REMEMBER WITH GREAT PLEASURE MY BRIEF STAY HERE. I SHALL HOPE TO RETURN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, AND MEANWHILE I SHALL FOLLOW WITH CLOSE INTEREST THE FORTUNES OF

ZIMBABWE.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS ENTRUSTED TO ME A MESSAGE FOR YOU ALL, WHICH READS..

AND NOW, MR PRESIDENT, IT IS MY VERY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO HAND TO YOU THESE CONSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS - THE SYMBOL OF YOUR INDEPENDENCE. I DO SO WITH THE BEST WISHES OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN FOR THE FUTURE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF YOUR COUNTRY. UNQUOTE.

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