CONFIDENTIAL
Copied to HK GO AF 1/4
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PP HONG KONG
GRS 497
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 14134OZ APR 82
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 247 OF 14 APRIL
INFO PEKING
MIPT: HONG KONG AND FALKLAND ISLANDS CRISIS
1.
Q•
G
HKK 020/2
No
CGF
15/4
AFISHLE
8
113
SUGGESTED SET OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
WHAT IS THE LEGAL BASIS OF THE BRITISH POSITION IN HONG KONG?
A. THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE LEASED AND ALL OTHER AREAS OF TERRI-
TORY ARE CEDED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. (IF PRESSED) THE RELEVANT TREATIES ARE THE TREATY OF NANKING, SIGNED ON 29 AUGUST 1842, THE FIRST CONVENTION OF PEKING, SIGNED ON 24 OCTOBER 1860, AND THE SECOND CONVENTION OF PEKING, SIGNED ON 9 JUNE 1898.
Q. IS SOVEREIGNTY NEGOTIABLE?
A.
IT IS TOO EARLY TO SPECULATE.
SUPPLEMENTARIES ON SOVEREIGNTY:
THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE THE FULL AGREEMENT OF THE
CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS AND ARE WORKING WELL.
A.
Q•
DOES HMG INTEND TO STAND BY ITS COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND
ITS PEOPLE?
A.
YES. MINISTERS HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS MADE CLEAR THAT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE REMAINS
UNDIMINISHED.
Q. DOES THIS COMMITMENT INCLUDE DEFENDING HONG KONG AGAINST
EXTERNAL AGGRESSION?
A. HMG DOES OF COURSE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFENCE OF HONG KONG. BUT HONG KONG'S SITUATION IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM
THAT OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. CHINESE LEADERS HAVE STRESSED ON
SEVERAL OCCASIONS THEIR DESIRE FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUING PROS- PERITY AND ITS IMPORTANCE AS A COMMERCIAL CENTRE AND FREE PORT. CHINA/UK RELATIONS HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXPIRY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE.
A. OBVIOUSLY THE EXPIRY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE IN 1997
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CONFIDENTIAL