GPS 280
UNCLASSIFIED
FM OTTAWA 191500Z JAN 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER FCO 33 OF 19TH JANUARY INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG
HKK040/6
TOP COPYS JAN 1984
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: VISIT OF PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG TO CANADA
1. PREMIER ZHAO ADDRESSED A JOINT MEETING OF THE CANADIAN HOUSE OF COMMONS AND SENATE ON 17 JANUARY.
2. HE INCLUDED IN HIS SPEECH A QUITE DETAILED SECTION ON HONG KONG. ALTHOUGH MUCH OF WHAT HE SAID WAS NOT, WE THINK, NEW, THE FULL TRANSLATION OF ZHAO'S STATEMENT, WHICH FOLLOWS, MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU:
BEGINS:
'' | ALSO WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES
HONG KONG WILL MAINTAIN ITS
TO RESOLVE THE HONG KONG QUESTION WHICH IS LEFT OVER FROM HISTORY. HONG KONG WAS OCCUPIED BY BRITAIN AFTER THE OPIUM WAR. CHINA HAS DECIDED TO RESUME EXERCISE OF ITS SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG IN 1997. WE HAVE ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING POLICIES WHICH WE BELIEVE ARE REASONABLE: HONG KONG WILL BECOME A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE HONG KONG PEOPLE THEMSELVES: THE CURRENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND
LIFESTYLE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED: FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND ITS STATUS AS A FREE PORT AND AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE: HONG KONG WILL MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP ITS ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES: THE INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS AND FOREIGN INVESTORS IN HONG KONG WILL BE FULLY PROTECTED. HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. ALL THESE WILL BE GUARANTEED BY A BASIC LAW OF HONG KONG TO BE ENACTED BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS,-THE SUPREME ORGAN OF POWER IN CHINA, WHICH WILL TAKE INTO FULL ACCOUNT OF (SIC) THE OPINIONS OF PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG. I BELIEVE THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN''.
ENDS MORAN
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
& CHIL
!
PS/HR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K 195