A key architect of the Sino-British Joint Declaration yesterday said 'two teams with one goal' had taken part in the talks held on the future of Hong Kong.
Lord Howe, former British foreign secretary, also said he always considered 1997 as the year Hong Kong had been 'handed back and not handed over'.
He was speaking at the inaugural event of the 48 Group Club. Founded in the early 1950s, the group is a business-led networking organisation with origins in the original 'icebreaker mission' when 48 British companies visited China to resume trade relations between the two countries.
On the first day of a three-day visit to Hong Kong, Lord Howe paid tribute to the central government for its role in Hong Kong's success.
In the presence of former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, he credited the 'mature stand of the government of China' in contributing to the success of Hong Kong since the handover.
Yesterday, 'icebreaker awards' were presented to tycoons Cheng Yu-tung, Leo Lee Tung-hai, David Li kwok-po and Vincent Lo Hong-sui for their contribution to promoting Sino-British trade.