CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEFING ON HONG KONG FOR LORD CHALFONT
POINTS TO MAKE
Thought you might like a bit of background before you go to
Hong Kong.
1.
2.
Talks taking place through diplomatic channels in Peking since
soon after Prime Minister's visit to China in September 1982.
Common aim of maintaining stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
3.
Progress slow but steady. Chinese line tough. They seek recovery of sovereignty in 1997 and regard sovereignty and
administration as indivisible.
4. More detailed phase of talks began in July. Chinese delegation
led by Vice Foreign Minister Yao Guang, British delegation by HMA
Peking. Governor of Hong Kong has participated on British side
since July. Latest session was 19/20 October, next session 14/15
November.
5.
Our aim is to seek a settlement acceptable to Britain, China and
people of Hong Kong. Their views taken fully into account. Made known to us and Governor through many channels. We are in close
consultation, through the Governor, with Hong Kong's Executive
Council (EXCO). Mr Luce visited Hong Kong 24-28 September. EXCO
Unofficials visited London 6-8 October.
6. Chinese plan is for Hong Kong to come within the Chinese State but with considerable autonomy and functioning essentially as it does now. Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region
(SAR) of China under Article 31 of the Constitution. Government would be drawn from the local people of Hong Kong. Economy and basic freedoms would be "protected" and the laws would be "basically unchanged". There would be independent convertible currency and "existing external relations in the economic and cultural fields"
would be maintained.
CONFIDENTIAL