GRS 1200
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 211130Z DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3851 OF 21 DECEMBER
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
HKK 040/5
dio
27 DEC 1984
DESK OFFICEK
1474
474
57
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY
INDEX
PA
RY
Action Taken
TAK + S
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT : SECRETARY OF STATE
EXCO.
SUMMARY
1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE BRIEFED EXCO ON THE HONG KONG ISSUES COVERED IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S TALKS WITH CHINESE LEADERS AND HIS OWN DISCUSSIONS WITH WU XUEQIAN. SIR SY CHUNG EXPRESSED THE COUNCIL'S THANKS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CUSSESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. HE HOPED THAT HMG WOULD PRESS THE CHINESE HARD ON PARTICIPATION BY HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW AND IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
DETAIL
IMPLEMENTATION
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT THE CHINESE HAD UNDERLINED THE IR COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT IN EVERY RESPECT. ZHAO ZIYANG HAD TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER THAT IT WAS A TRADITION OF THE CHINESE NATION TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH AND TO ABIDE BY AND IMPLEMENT FAITHFULLY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR MISGIVINGS ABOUT FUTURE CHANGE OF CHINESE POLICTY, CHINA WOULD PROVE HERE WORDS BY DEEDS.
BASIC LAW
3. THE PRIME MINISTER HAD STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DASIC LAW, THE NEED FOR IT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH HONG KONG'S CAPITALIST AND LEGAL SYSTEMS, AND THE EXPERTISE HONG KONG PEOPLE HAD TO OFFER. ZHAQ HAD SAID THAT CHINA WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW WITH THE AIM OF PROMULGATING IT NOT LATER THAN 1990. IN THE COURSE OF DRAFTING, HONG KONG PEOPLE'S VIEWS WOULD BE SOLICITED ON A VIDE DASIS. IN HIS DISCUSSION WITH WU, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD TRIED TO EXPLORE FURTHER WHAT THE CHINESE HAD IN HIND AND HAD NADE IT CLEAR THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WERE READY TO OFFER ADVICE IN APPROPRIATE WAYS. HE HAD ALSO SPOKEN TO ZHOU MAN. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A SENSITIVE MATTER FOR THE CHINESE SINCE IT TOUCHED ON THEIR SOVEREIGNTY. BUT HE HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CHINESE WOULD BE READY TO ACCEPT BRITISH ADVICE PROVIDED IT WAS NOT OFFERED FORMALLY. CHANNELS OTHER THAN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP
HAVE TO BE FOUND.
CONS
ONFIDENTIAL
ICONSTITUTIONAL