:
i
GPS 300
RESTRICTED
DESKBY FCO 2605OOZ
RESTRICTED
DESKBY PEKING 26050OZ
DESKBY CANBERRA 2605OOZ
DESKBY UKMIS NEW YORK 2605OOZ
FM HONG KONG 260455Z SEP 34
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3042 OF 26 SEPTEMBER
TOP COPY
LIKKO 406 LIKK0406
26 SEP 1984
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, CANBERRA, UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S PARTY)
REGISTRY
on Taken
22/10. GRY/10
MY TELNO 3039: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PUBLIC STATEMENTS
1. THE AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION IN HONG KONG HAVE GIVEN US THE
TEXT OF A STATEMENT BY THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER RELEASED
AT 030OZ TODAY, 26 SEPTEMBER.
IT READS AS FOLLOWS:
TI THE GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
I CONGRATULATE BOTH GOVERNMENTS ON HAVING ACHIEVED THIS
SETTLEMENT.
IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF
INTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A DETAILED AGREEMENT BEING REACHED WITH THE DECLARED OBJECT OF MAINTAINING
CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND ENSURING ITS CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
IT HAS BEEN MY FIRMLY AND CONSISTENTLY HELD VIEW,
A VIEW STRENGTHENED BY MY VISIT TO HONG KONG AND PARTICULARLY
BY MY DISCUSSIONS WITH PREMIER ZHAO IN PEKING IN FEBRUARY
THIS YEAR, THAT THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM
AND CHINA WOULD RESULT IN AN AMICABLE AND SENSIBLE AGREEMENT
WHICH WOULD ALLOW HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN CONDITIONS ACCEPTABLE TO ALL THE PARTIES.
AUSTRALIA HAS IMPORTANT INTERESTS IN HONG KONG AND
IN HONG KONG'S CONTINUING TO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR REGION. THE AGREEMENT THAT HAS NOW BEEN REACHED, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR CONTINUING CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE, WILL MAKE
RESTRICTED
/AN
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