GRS250
UNCLASSIFIED
FROM PEKING 120611Z DEC 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2956 OF 12/12/84
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
عاطف.
176
HICK
RECEIVED IN REGISTRy
040/31
INDEX
12 DEC 1984
* OFFICER
OK MY
PA
Action Taken
PEKING TEL NO 2920: HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
1. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 12 DECEMBER REPORTED ON PAGE 1
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON 10 DECEMBER.
AS WITH THE COMMONS DEBATE (TUR REFERS) IT WAS
REPORTED THAT THE LORDS HAD UNANIMOUSLY PASSED'' THE
JOINT DECLARATION. THE REPORT NOTED THAT THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES
OF APPROVAL FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO COME TO CHINA FOR THE FORMAL SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION HAD THUS BEEN COMPLETED.
IT ALSO NOTED THAT THE GREAT AJORITY OF THOSE WHO HAD SPOKEN
IN BOTH HOUSES HAD CONSIDERED THE JOINT DECLARATION TO BE
A HISTORIC DOCUMENT AND ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS' TO BE
A WISE AND FAR-SIGHTED CONCEPT.
2. THE REPORT QUOTED LADY YOUNG AS SAYING THAT THE AGREEMENT
PROVIDED A ''SOLID BASE' FOR HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY
AND STABILITY INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. IT ALSO NOTED
THAT SHE HAD CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS NO REASON TO
DOUBT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD HONOUR THEIR OBLIGATIONS
UNDER THE AGREEMENT.
3. LORD MACLEHOSE'S REMARKS WERE ALSO REPORTED BRIEFLY.
HE HAD EXPRESSED ADMIRATION FOR THE INSIGHT AND COURAGE** SHOWN
BY CHINESE LEADERS IN RESOLVING THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, AND HAD EMPHASISED THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION
WENT FAR BEYOND THE PROBLEM IT HAD ITSELF SOLVED.
4. NO REPORT APPEARED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CHINA DAILY
EVANS
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR. CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
!
Page 30Page 31
Mr Galsworthy,
Mr Hum, HKD
HKD
Mr Powell, HKD
Mrs Priest, HKD
Mrs Jennings, HKD