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SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, AND TO RECOMMEND TO PARLIAMENT THAT
SOVEREIGNTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL PASS TO CHINA. FOLLOWING
THIS, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT SOUGHT TO EXPLORE WITH THE CHINESE
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR PROPOSALS FOR HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. IN THESE DISCUSSIONS THE CHINESE SIDE
FURTHER ELABORATED THEIR IDEAS ON THE POLICIES WHICH THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT WERE PROPOSING TO PURSUE IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
11.
IN APRIL 1984 THE TWO SIDES COMPLETED INITIAL DISCUSSION OF
THESE MATTERS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING UNRESOLVED
POINTS, BUT IT WAS BY THEN CLEAR THAT AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR AN
AGREEMENT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE. AT THE INVITATION OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY VISITED PEKING
FROM 15 TO 18 APRIL. DURING HIS MEETINGS WITH CHINESE LEADERS
THE TWO SIDES REVIEWED THE COURSE OF THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF
HONG KONG, AND FURTHER PROGRESS WAS MADE. IN HONG KONG ON
20 APRIL SIR GEOFFREY HOWE MADE A STATEMENT ON HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO THE NEGOTIATIONS. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD
NOT BE REALISTIC TO THINK OF AN AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDED FOR
CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997: FOR
THAT REASON HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN EXAMINING WITH THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOW IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ARRIVE AT
ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD SECURE FOR HONG KONG, AFTER 1997, A HIGH
DEGREE OF AUTONOMY UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, AND THAT WOULD
PRESERVE THE WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG, TOGETHER WITH THE
ESSENTIALS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEMS. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HER
MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WERE WORKING FOR A FRAMEWORK OF ARRANGEMENTS
THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S FLOURISHING
AND DYNAMIC SOCIETY, AND AN AGREEMENT IN WHICH SUCH ARRANGEMENTS
WOULD BE FORMALLY SET OUT.
12. AFTER SIR GEOFFREY HOWE'S VISIT IN APRIL NEGOTIATIONS
CONTINUED. A WORKING GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE 1984 TO MEET
FULL-TIME IN PEKING AND CONSIDER DOCUMENTS TABLED BY BOTH SIDES.
IN JULY 1984 THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY AGAIN VISITED
PEKING. THE VISIT WAS DEVOTED ALMOST ENTIRELY TO THE FUTURE OF
HONG KONG. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE ANNOUNCED IN HONG KONG ON 1 AUGUST
THAT VERY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE TOWARDS AGREEMENT ON
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