SECRET
20228 1
-
BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY CITIZENS, AND THEIR WISH TO RETAIN
THAT NATIONALITY. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
EITHER THIS PARLIAMENT OR A SUCCESSOR WOULD FAVOUR CHANGES WHICH
STIMULATED EMIGRATION FROM HONG KONG TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OR
ELSEWHERE. THAT IS A FURTHER REASON WHY WE ARE LOOKING FOR
ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD ALLOW HONG KONG PEOPLE TO ENTER AND
LEAVE THE TERRITORY FREELY AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDE A SECURE
FUTURE FOR THEM THERE.
15. WHERE THE TIMETABLE OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS IS CONCERNED, WE AR
AWARE OF THE CHINESE DESIRE THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT FUTURE
ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN SEPTEMBER. WE ARE WORKING TO A
PROGRAMME IN THE TALKS WHICH TAKES ACCOUNT OF CHINESE WISHES, BUT
ALSO OF ALL OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS. PARLIAMENT WILL WISH TO
REFLECT AND TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG
WHEN THE TIME COMES TO DEBATE THE AGREEMENT. I CAN ASSURE NOBLE
LORDS THAT THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF RUSHING PARLIAMENT. SO
FAR AS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED IT IS PARLIAMENT WHICH
WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
16.
LET ME ATTEMPT TO SUM UP. WE REALISE THAT THE UNIQUE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG REQUIRE IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS. THE
TERRITORY IS HOME TO A HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS
EVOLVED ITS OWN INSTITUTIONS AND ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE LIFESTYLE.
WE WANT TO SEE THE ESSENCE OF ALL THIS ENDURE. WE SEE OUR GOOD
RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND OUR COMMON INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S
STABLE FUTURE AS A BASIS ON WHICH TO BUILD THE CONTINUITY OF A
SOCIETY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SECURE HOME FOR ITS INHABITANTS AND
A MAJOR CENTRE SERVING THE WORLD ECONOMY.
17. OUR COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT CONTINUE. ALTHOUGH A GOOD DEAL OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN
MADE WE ARE STILL SOME WAY FROM AN AGREEMENT. A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT POINTS STILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT
ON BOTH SIDES THERE IS A WILL AND A COMMITMENT TO OVERCOME THE
REMAINING OBSTACLES AND TO ACHIEVE AN AGREEMENT. OUR AIM IS A
BINDING AGREEMENT WHICH WILL SECURE A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTINUITY
FOR HONG KONG UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, WHICH WILL PRESERVE THE
ESSENTIALS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM AND WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG,
5
SECRET