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FM FCO 271325Z JULY 84
TO PRIORITY TOKYO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 422 OF 27 JULY
REPEATED INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING
YOUR TELNO 585: MR LUCE'S INTERVIEW WITH MAINICHI
1.
WITH REFERENCE TO PARAGRAPH 1(F) OF YOUR TUR, MR LUCE DID
NOT (NOT) SAY THAT BRITAIN WAS OPPOSED TO CHINESE PROPOSALS FOR A
JOINT ANGLO-CHINESE COMMISSION FOR HONG KONG.
2.
THE CORRECT TEXT OF THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IS
AS FOLLOWS:
TO DISCUSS
-
(A) KOMORI: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THE CHINESE
PROPOSALS FOR THE CREATION OF A JOINT SINO-BRITISH MISSION?
MR LUCE: WELL I THINK THE FIRST THING TO REALISE IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE
THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997. THAT IS THE WHOLE BASIS OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS FOR
THE OBVIOUS REASONS WE ALL KNOW ABOUT: 1997. AND THE IMPORTANT
THING THEREFORE FIRST OF ALL FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IS THAT
THEY SHOULD HAVE AS DETAILED AND AS BINDING AN AGREEMENT AS THEY
CAN GET, AS THEY CAN SEE, TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THEIR WAY
OF LIFE, AFTER 1997. THEREFORE WE COME TO YOUR QUESTION: WHAT
HAPPENS BEFORE 1997? THERE IS NO SHADOW OF DOUBT THAT THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAINTAIN AUTHORITY
BRITISH AUTHORITY FOR THE GOVERNING OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997.
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REAFFIRM IN THAT CONTEXT.
SO IT IS UP TO THE CHINESE IF THEY WISH TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS
BEFORE THEN BUT THERE IS NO DOUBTING OUR POSITION AND THAT IS
THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR AUTHORITY UNTIL 1997. THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT POINT.
(B) KOMORI: YOU ARE FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA?
MR LUCE: WELL IT IS UP TO THE CHINESE TO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS
IF THEY WANT TO HAVE CONSULTATION WITH US. THAT IS THEIR CHOICE
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