OO PEKING
GRS 290
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO 131500Z APR 83
UNCLASSIFIED
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 225 OF 13 APRIL
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : MIPT
6243
"MKK04011
1547 1
HAND IN GAISY NO $1 19 APR 1983
EV
12214
1. EXTRACT ON HONG KONG FROM WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERVIEW WITH
MRS THATCHER CARRIED IN THE ASIA EDITION ON 4 APRIL IS AS FOLLOWS:
'Q.
OVER THE LAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONING
IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA.
TS
THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT WHERE THE DISCUSSIONS WITH
CHINA ARE GOING, OR ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG?
A. NO, THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER I CAN TELL YOU. WE HAD TO
OPEN UP THE SUBJECT BECAUSE THE LEASE ENDS IN 1997 AND WE WERE
SOON GOING TO COME TO THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE GOING TO WORRY
ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE WAS, PARTICULARLY WITH PROPERTY ON THE
SCHEDULED TERRITORIES. WE HAVE TO OPEN UP THE DIALOGUE NOW
BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN TELL YOU FURTHER THAN WHAT WAS
PUBLISHED IN THE COMMUNIQUE AT THE TIME.
I DO THINK THAT WE ARE ALL VERY KEEN TO KEEP THE STABILITY AND
PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IF WE POSSIBLY CAN. THAT IS COMPOUNDED
OF THESE TWO REMARKABLE THINGS THE CHINESE CHARACTER AND THE
-
PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO START.
Q
DO YOU THINK THE COMMUNIQUE HAD A STABILISING EFFECT?
A. IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO KNOW. WHAT THE COMMUNIQUE DID WAS
TO SET OUT AGREED OBJECTIVES. THE COMMUNIQUE WAS AGREED BETWEEN
DENG XIAOPING AND MYSELF: THE STATEMENT WAS AGREED TO BY THE TWO
OF US AFTER CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSIONS. THE OBJECTIVES STILL
REMAIN, AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN REACH AGREEMENT ON HOW TO DO
IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS IN ALL OUR INTERESTS THAT WE SHOULD
AND REALLY WHEN YOU HAVE GOT THIS REMARKABLE THING, YOU WOULD
REALLY THINK THAT BOTH CHINA AND OURSELVES COULD REACH SOME
AGREEMENT ON HOW TO PRESERVE IT. BECAUSE IT IS A REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENT.'
PYM
FUTURE OF HONG KÒNG
MEMEKUND
ED/EKGD
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD MR DONALD
COPIES TO
SIR I SINOLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER MRCOLES
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO TO DOWNING ST
"
(644)