DAVID HEATHCOAT - AMORY
UNCLASSIFIED
1.
Britain should admit people from Hong Kong if the situation
"became messy".
(Hong Kong telegram 3246 18 October)
RUSSELL JOHNSTON
1.
Government have negotiated best Agreement possible in the
circumstances. "Two systems, one nation" "an historic concession".
Basis of a stable future for Hong Kong.
There will be arguments about the validity of guarantees so far
into the future. PRC has a good record in observing international
agreements.
We are transferring a territory to its neighbour from which most of
its inhabitants have fled, doing so over the heads of those
inhabitants, who are being allowed no decisive say in their future. Britain therefore has particular responsibility to ensure no
individual suffers for past political actions.
(Official statement 26 September).
2.
Assessment Office not a cosmetic exercise: opinions would be
taken into serious account by Parliament.
(Hong Kong press conference 6 October)
3.
Britain responsible for question of Hong Kong people's emigration. Believed she will shoulder this responsibility.
Doubts
over workability of memoranda on nationality, but people should not harp on the issue as it reflected doubts about China's promises. (Hong Kong telegram 3246 18 October)
UNCLASSIFIED