FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1983
SECONDLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO HAVE VIEWS WHICH THEY WISH TO EXPRESS NOT SO PUBLICLY, IN A MORE DISCREET HANNER, AND THEY HAVE MANY CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH THEY MAKE THEM KNOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT HERE IS VERY WELL OPEN TO THEM.
YOU REFERRED TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND INDEED, WE ARE IN VERY CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL UPON THIS ISSUE NON VERY REGULARLY, AND THEY OF COURSE ARE IN WIDE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, THOUGH I THINK IT IS SOMETHING OF A MISLEADING IMPRESSION TO SAY THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING CONSULTED. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT WE ARE LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY WE ARE CONVEYING THAT VERY CAREFULLY BACK TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN BACK IN LONDON THREE OR FOUR TIMES FOR THAT PURPOSE AND INDEED, EVERY TIME A SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF EXCO GOES BACK, HE SEES MINISTERS, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER. SO I DON'T THINK YOU NEED HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT WHAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FEEL IS BEING CONVEYED TO LONDON.
JE BUT IN THE MEANTIME. YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY I THINK, TOLD US TO +KEEP OUR NERVE+ BUT MEANWHILE THERE IS A GROWING SENSE OF URGENCY HERE. HOW CAN PEOPLE KEEP THEIR NERVE IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING?
HE: I RECOGNISE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS, AND THAT CONFIDENTIALITY FOR THE TALKS IS DIFFICULT FOR MANY PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THIS DECISION TO HAVE CONFIDENTIAL TALKS WAS A DELIBERATE AND CAREFULLY TAKEN DECISION. I THINK THERE IS A VERY STRONG AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE FROM MANY INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS, THAT IN ISSUES AS SERIOUS AND AS DELICATE AS THIS KIND OF ISSUE, THE BEST WAY OF PROCEEDING IS THROUGH CONFIDENTIAL TALKS. THAT YOU DO NOT MAKE PROGRESS THROUGH EXCHANGES OF PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
NOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY NATURAL INTEREST IN WANTING TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE MAIN OBJECTIVE WHICH IS THE SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND THE MEANS MOST LIKELY TO LEAD TO THAT SETTLEMENT.
J32 AND BILL THE END OF THE BRY+ BE 1983 WHEN HE GET A DECISION, OR IS THIS GOING TO GO ON FOR A LOT LONGER?
HEI I'M NOT GOING TO SET A DATE FOR SETTLEMENT, I THINK IT NOULD BE FOOLISH TO DO THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY I SHALL CERTAINLY BE LOOKING FOR PROGRESS IN 1983.
JB1 WILL THE OUTCOME OF THE BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION AFFECT THIS OUTCOME?
HE: NO, 1 BON'T THINK IT WILL. THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS IS A GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON THE OBJECTIVE, AND THE DECLARED AIM IN UK HAS BEEN STATED TO FIND A SETTLEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO CHINA, UK AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. I DO NOT EXPECT THE ELECTION TO AFFECT THAT AIM, NOR MAY I SAY, DO 1 EXPECT THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO AFFECT THE PROGRESS OF THESE TALKS. MINISTERS IN UK WILL INDEED BE VERY BUSY DURING AN ELECTION PERIOD, BUT I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO AFFECT PROGRESS.
/JB:
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