GRS 450
SECRET
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SECRET ReceiVED
027/2
BAGISTRY 12 APR 1984
DESK OFFICE.
INDEX
215
FUTURE EGRET
FM HONG KONG 110815Z APR 84
NIR
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 278 OF 11 APRIL
INFO PRIORITY FCO
FOR GOVERNOR FROM BRAY
HTNG KONG TELNO 973 OF 9 APRIL: FUTURE EGRET
(5/5 visit)
T-1/4
PRESS QUESTIONS ARISING FROM S OF S'S DRAFT STATEMENT AS IN HK
TELNO 973.
I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH CS. POSSIBLE PRESS QUESTIONS FOLLOW.
1. YOU HAVE SAID MUCH MOR ABOUT THE WAY NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING THAN
ANY MINISTER BEFORE. HAVE THE CHINESE AGREED TO YOUR GOING SO FAR?
2.
YOU SAY MANY IMPORTANT POINTS REMAIN TO BE SETTLED. DOES THIS
MEAN MANY IMPORTANT POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SETTLED? HAD HMG
AGREED TO PASS SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATION TO CHINA?
3. IF HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENT IS TO BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE TERMS OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PRO
(A)
HOW CAN ITS CAPITALIST SYSTEMS BE RECONCILED WITH ARTICLE 1
OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION WHICH LAYS DOWN THAT
'THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM IS THE BASIC SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
SABOTAGE OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM BY ANY ORGAINISATION OR INDIVIDUAL
IS PROHIBITED'
(3)
WILL PHRASES LIKE
#
....FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OF THE PRESS, OF ASSEMBLY, OF ASSOCIATION, OF PROCESSION AND OF DEMONSTRATION WHICH
ARE FOUND IN ARTICLE 35 OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION COME TO MEAN
IN HONG KONG WHAT THEY DO IN CHINA TO-DAY?
4. YOU REFER TO FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY ARREST. ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND
THIS TO MEAN THE SAME THING AS 'THE FREEDOM OF PERSON
IS
INVIOLABLE AS LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 37 OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION
MEANS IN CHINA TO-DAY?
...
5. WILL THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION YOU EXPECT DE SIMILAR TO THAT FREEDO
M
OF RELIGION LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 36 OF THE CONSTITUTUON OF CHINA AND
'NOT SUBJECT TO FOREIGN DOMINATION SO THAT ROMAN CATHOLICS WILL
NO LONGER BE ABLE TO LOOK TO THE POPE AS HEAD OF THE CHUPCH?
WHEN YOU SAY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED ON INCREASINGLY
REPRESENTATIVE LINES' DOES THIS MEAN YOU EXPECT EARLY ELECTIONS TO
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL?
SECRET
17.