CONFIDENTIAL
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG:
18-21 DECEMBER 1984
HONG KONG
BRIEF NO 2:
MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: SUPPLEMENTARY BRIEF
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
BACKGROUND
A: GENERAL
1. EXCO will expect be looking forward to a full briefing on the Prime Minister's discussions with Chinese leaders (the Secretary of
State's statement will have to be drafted once those discussions
have taken place). They will in particular wish to know how the points they put to Ministers in London have been raised with Chinese
leaders.
2.
The Unofficials main concerns were set out in the UMELCO
statement of 29 November (attached) and in Sir S Y Chung's speaking note for the meeting with the Prime Minister on 5 December
(attached). Essentially these concerns are:
(a) China's implementation of the agreement.
(b)
the British commitment to Hong Kong. During their lobbying
visit to London the UMELCO delegation proposed the idea of an annual parliamentary debate or an annual report to Parliament. The idea received some support in Parliament, but Ministers
were non-committal.
(c)
(d)
drafting of the Basic Law. The Unofficials are anxious that there should be actual participation by Hong Kong people
in drafting process.
incompatibility between the Basic Law and the Chinese constitution. (Miss Maria Tam is particularly concerned about
this point). As the Chinese will be drafting the Baric Law, we
believe it is inconceivable that they would make it
incompatible with their own constitution. The Basic Law is likely to make it clear which aspects of the Chinese
CONFIDENTIAL