CHURCH HOUSE INTERNATIONAL MEETING: 16 JANUARY 1985
HONG KONG
POINTS TO MAKE
1.
Agreement on future of Hong Kong signed by Prime Minister
Premier
and
Zhao Ziyang in Peking on 19 December. Government satisfied
that agreement provides necessary assurances for future of Hong
Kong. Now moving to ratification before 30 June 1985. Hong Kong
Bill will receive its second reading in House of Commons on 21
January.
2.
freedoms. Annex I,
Agreement particularly strong on rights and
section XIII guarantees that rights and freedoms as provided for in
laws of Hong Kong will continue.
Provisions of International
Covenants on Civil and Political and Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights as applied to Hong Kong will also continue.
20
and
3. List of rights explicitly includes religious freedom. Religious organisations
maintain relations with organisations
May continue to run schools, hospitals and
may
believers elsewhere.
welfare institutions.
4.
Agreement contains much detail. Report of Assessment Office
clearly shows that it was acceptable to majority of people in Hong
Kong.
Of course not every aspect acceptable to every person.
Reservations recorded
Assessment Office Report wil1 be borne in
mind by government in discussions with Chinese government.
5.
in
agreement.
Every reason to believe Chinese will implement
Chinese have acknowledged that it is a legally binding international
agreement. China justifiably proud of record in meeting obligations
under international treaties.