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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, hosted a dinner at Government House tonight (Tuesday) for the British and Chinese sides of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG), whose historical role will come to a close on January 1, 2000.
Speaking at the dinner, the Chief Executive said that the work of the JLG in the last 14 years represented a most remarkable achievement.
"The unprecedented and unique concept of 'One Country, Two Systems' has been turned into a reality. Under the Basic Law, Hong Kong enjoys the full range of autonomies, the way of life and the preservation of the systems as envisaged in the Joint Declaration," Mr Tung said.
"The course we have charted for Hong Kong will be remembered in history as a brave adventure and one which has made a most important contribution to the reunification of China.
"Hong Kong today is a vibrant and lively city and we see the successful implementation of the concept of 'One Country, Two Systems' not only in Hong Kong, but also in Macao which celebrated its reunification with the motherland only yesterday.
"In the past 30 months since Hong Kong's reunification, we have faced some important challenges such as the Asian financial turmoil. However, we were able to tackle each hurdle put in front of us with the full knowledge that the continued prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is built on a strong foundation," he said.
The Chief Executive noted that at the threshold of a new millennium, the work of the JLG was drawing to a close. He said, "Hong Kong's smooth transition will stand as a testimony to and shining example of how a complex problem left over from history can be resolved through cooperation and mutual understanding."
The Chief Executive recalled warmly the recent visit by the President of the People's Republic of China to the United Kingdom, which brought Sino-British relationship to a new level.
Noting that successive generations of JLG Members had made invaluable contributions, Mr Tung thanked the Ambassadors and Representatives of the JLG for their dedication, patience, hard work, determination and foresight.
Guests from the Chinese side included : Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Chen Zuo'er; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, Mr Ma Yuzhen; Commander, PLA Garrison in Hong Kong, Major General Xiong Ziren; Director General of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Zhu Zushou; Senior Representative, Ambassador Wu Hongbo; Representatives, Mr Lu Ping and Mr Cheng Shousan; and First Secretary, Miss Jiang Chunyan.
Guests from the British side included : the UK Minister of State, Mr John Battle; the British Consul-General, Sir Andrew Burns; ex-Senior Representatives Sir Anthony Galsworthy and Mr Hugh Davies; former Political Advisers Mr William Ehrman and Mr Bob Peirce; Senior Representative, Ambassador Alan Paul; and Representatives, Mr David Warren, Dr Andrew Young, Mr John Everard and Mrs Juliette Wilcox.
Also present at the dinner were the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang; the Secretary for Justice, Miss Elsie Leung; the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, who is a serving Representative of the JLG; the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, an ex-Representative of the JLG; and the Information Coordinator, Mr Stephen Lam.
Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, hosts a dinner for members of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group at Government House. Picture shows Mr Tung chatting with the representatives of the Joint Liaison Group during the banquet.
End/Tuesday, December 21, 1999
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