CONFIDENTIAL
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16.
HMG'S AIM, THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT,
IS TO AGREE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH WILL MAINTAIN HONG
KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN A WAY ACCEPTABLE TO THE
BRITISH PARLIAMENT, THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA AND THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG. BOTH WE AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE THE STRONGEST
POSSIBLE MOTIVES FOR REACHING SUCH AN AGREEMENT.
17. WE ARE ENTERING THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BASIS OF FIRMNESS AND
FLEXIBILITY: WE ARE FIRM ON OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN THE
WELL-BEING AND WAY OF LIFE OF HONG KONG. WE ARE FLEXIBLE ON THE
MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS. THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT CONTINUITY
SHOULD BE EFFECTIVELY GUARANTEED.
BUT SINCE THE CHINESE HAVE REVEALED THEIR PLAN PUBLICLY, SHOULD
NOT HMG TELL HONG KONG THEIR IDEAS IN MORE DETAIL?:
18. WE HAVE OF COURSE SEEN A NUMBER OF REPORTS OF REMARKS BY
CHINESE PUBLIC FIGURES. SINCE MANY OF THESE HAVE BEEN MADE TO
HONG KONG PEOPLE, IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THEIR FRANK VIEWS, KNOWN, NOT JUST TO US BUT ALSO TO
THE CHINESE. ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF MY VISIT HERE IS TO
LISTEN TO THOSE VIEWS.
SO
19. THE PRIME MINISTER AGREED WITH THE CHINESE LEADER THAT THE
TALKS SHOULD AIM AT THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY
IN HONG KONG. WE ARE SURE THE CHINESE SHARE OUR VIEW THAT
NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO DAMAGE CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY.
FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE WORKED OUT
CLOSELY AND RESPONSIBLY BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS IN THE
INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. THE CONFERENCE TABLE IS THE PLACE FOR AN
EXCHANGE OF VIEWS.
ACTION TO PREVENT EROSION OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG:
20. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. I KNOW THAT
IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST VIGOROUSLY IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND ITS PEOPLE,
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY.
AND
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CONFIDENTIAL