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CONTRIBUTION TO MR GOODLAD'S SPEECH TO MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF
DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN RELATIONS: SECTION ON HONG KONG
37
area.
Hong Kong is of course an important British interest in the
It is also an important British responsibility and one which we take very seriously. That is why the Prime Minister chose Mr Patten, a senior cabinet colleague and friend, to be
Governor for the final years of British administration in
Hong Kong. Mr Patten has dedicated himself to his task with great energy, skill and a determination to do what is best for
Hong Kong. He has the British Government's fullest support.
To listen to what some people are saying, you would think that what Mr Patten was doing in Hong Kong was to tear up all existing agreements between Britain and China and to behave in a wholly arbitrary and irresponsible manner. This is of course
nonsense. The fact that accusations are constantly repeated and
in abusive terms does not make them any more true.
What is at issue are the arrangements for the elections to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 1995, the last such elections
before China resumes sovereignty in 1997. Mr Patten did not
invent this issue. Britain has the responsibility to hold
elections at that time. And we and the Governor intend that the
elections should be held on a basis that is fair, open and
acceptable to the people of Hong Kong.
Some people ask why now? Why is democracy suddenly so important for Hong Kong? It is not in fact a sudden development. It has
been clear for some years that people in Hong Kong have wanted a greater say in running their own affairs. This was apparent by 1984, when the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed, and
was acknowledged by China in the Joint Declaration's commitment
to gradual progress towards a fully-elected legislature. But the tragic events in Tiananmen Square in June 1989 had an
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