Q12. WHAT MEASURES WILL THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TAKE TO ENSURE THAT
THE NEW FORM OF BRITISH PASSPORT FOR HK'S BDTCS WILL BE
ACCEPTED BY OTHER COUNTRIES?
A12. HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL IT CAN TO ENSURE FOR
THE HOLDERS OF THESE PASSPORTS THE SAME ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AS THAT ENJOYED AT PRESENT BY HOLDERS OF BRITISH DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES CITIZENS PASSPORTS. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT
THIRD COUNTRIES WILL NOT RECOGNISE THESE PASSPORTS.
DEFENCE
Q13. WERE YOU ABLE TO CONFIRM WITH CHINESE LEADERS THAT HONG KONG
PEOPLE WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CONSCRIPTION?
A13. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SUGGESTED THAT THERE WOULD BE
CONSCRIPTION IN THE SAR AND THERE IS NO REASON TO ASSUME THAT
THERE WOULD BE SUCH A THING.
DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN HK
Q14. THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN CRITICISED BY ADVOCATES OF DEMOCRATISATION
INCLUDING SOME MPS AS BEING TOO LITTLE AND TOO LATE''. WHY SHOULD
HK NOT HAVE DIRECT ELECTIONS NOW? IS IT BECAUSE PEKING DOES NOT
WISH TO SEE HK MOVE TOWARDS A WESTERN PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM?
A14. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S RECENT WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT
OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES FOR SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT
TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS IN THE 1985 ELECTIONS AND FOR THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DIRECTION FOLLOWING
A FURTHER REVIEW IN 1987 WHICH WILL CONSIDER ALSO THE QUESTION OF
DIRECT ELECTIONS. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT
CONSIDERS THE NEXT 12 YEARS AS CRUCIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
FIRMLY BASED DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG BUT WE SHALL
NEED TO KEEP CONSTANTLY IN MIND THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ITS
FUTURE POSITION AS AN SAR OF THE PRC.
GUARANTEES
Q15. AS HAS BEEN SO OFTEN STATED THERE CAN BE NO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEES
FOR AN AGREEMENT SUCH AS THIS. SO AREN'T THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG
AT THE END OF THE DAY BEING ASKED TO TAKE CHINA'S WORD ON TRUST
WHEN MANY OF THEM HAVE SO MUCH REASON TO DOUBT IT?
A15. IT IS TRUE THAT THERE CAN BE NO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE FOR THIS
OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT BUT VERY FEW PLACES CAN HAVE THEIR
LONG-TERM FUTURE MAPPED OUT IN SUCH DETAIL AND WITH SUCH FIRM
COMMITMENT AS HONG KONG NOW HAS. WHAT LIES BEHIND THIS AGREEMENT
IS THE VERY SOLID COMMON INTEREST OF BOTH BRITAIN AND CHINA IN
PRESERVING HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN AN UNCERTAIN
WORLD, WHICH IS VERY REASSURING.
2. OTHER ISSUES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO COME UP :
(4) PEKING VISIT :
-
MAIN POINTS DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS.
- PROGRESS ON DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEVELOPMENT.
-
BRITISH INVOLVEMENT IN OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION IN THE
/SOUTH
CONFIDENTIAL
!