CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
30 JUNE
BRIEF NO 8: MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL POINTS TO MAKE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1.
Understand that the Governor had a successful visit to China
and that Deng Xiaoping stressed the importance of confidence and
investment. Chinese clearly have a realistic appreciation of
the part Hong Kong can play in their drive for modernisation.
Sino-British relations excellent. So the outlook for the next
ten years or so must be very good.
NEW TERRITORIES LEASES
2.
There is clearly a practical problem about the land leases
in the New Territories. We are looking into ways of dealing
with it which would remove the significance of 1997. The
Executive Council will be consulted at the appropriate stage.
In the meantime, the less speculation the better.
CHINESE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG
3.
Understand that the Chinese raised this with the Governor
in Peking. British position is the same as the Governor's:
an official Chinese representative is neither necessary nor,
at present, appropriate. In the meantime glad to learn that
unofficial arrangements working so well.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
4. Much sympathy in the UK for Hong Kong's predicament, and
admiration for maintenance of humane attitude towards refugees.
Solutions can only be found through concerted international
action, for which we have been pressing vigorously. Because of
other commitments, very difficult for UK to accept many more
Vietnamese refugees permanently: We accepted 730,000 people
/for
CONFIDENTIAL