CONFIDENTIAL
1141 1
THE PRIME MINISTER CONTINUED THAT WE ALSO HOPED FOR AN
EARLY DECISION ON AIR SERVICES WHICH WOULD GIVE CATHAY PACIFIC A
FAIR ROLE BOTH IN NUMBERS OF FLIGHTS AND DESTINATIONS SERVED.
ZHAO ZIYANG SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE POSITION ON
GATT HAD BEEN SETTLED DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS.
SERVICES.)
(HE DID NOT RESPOND ON AIR
ZHAO ZIYANG SAID THAT HE WISHED TO RAISE A POINT ABOUT
THE POLITICAL PROGRESS IN HONG KONG. THIS SHOULD BE VERY
CAUTIOUS. THERE WERE DIFFERING OPINIONS EVEN WITHIN HONG KONG
ITSELF. IF ONE WERE NOT CAUTIOUS ENOUGH, IT WOULD NOT BE
BENEFICIAL TO POLITICAL STABILITY. IN ANY CASE POLITICAL REFORM
WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASIC LAW. THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING
COMMITTEE WOULD MEET AGAIN IN MARCH. THE PRIME MINISTER SAID
THAT THE PACE OF POLITICAL EVOLUTION WAS GOING VERY GENTLY FOR
THAT REASON. SHE ALSO WISHED THE PREMIER TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
DECISION TO REDUCE BY ONE THE GURKHA BATTALION IN HONG KONG DID
NOT MEAN WE WERE ANY LESS CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG'S SECURITY.
IT WAS SIMPLY RESTORİNG THE SITUATION TO WHAT IT HAD BEEN BEFORE
1980. ZHAO ZIYANG NODDED.
ENDS.
HOWE
OCMIAN 1141
NNNN
LIMITED
HKD
FED
SIR W HARDING DR WILSON
!
2
CONFIDENTIAL
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED FOR
....40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION No.
2761).