CONFIDENTIAL
(C) WE ADMINISTER HONG KONG UP TO 1997. BUT THE WISDOM OF COVERGENCE OF OUR PLANS AND THEIRS IS WIDELY RECOGNISED.
(D) THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS SAID THAT IT HAS NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS, AND HAS UNDERTAKEN TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH CONSULTATIVE PROCESS. WE SHALL CONDUCT A REVIEW IN 1987 TO ASCERTAIN THE VIEWS
OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ON THESE 4SSUES.
3. OTHER POINTS:
(A) NO: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ARE GOOD. BOTH SIDES ARE FIRMLY AND PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND TO A SMOOTH TRANSITION. CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG'S OWN NEEDS, AND THE EVOLVING ASPIRATIONS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL
BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
(B) (IF PRESSED ABOUT APPARENT EXPRESSIONS OF CHINESE DISPLEASURE
AT RECENT REFORMS.)
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS SCRUPULOUSLY RESPECTED THE AGREEMENT, AND THIS FACT IS RECOGNISED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THERE IS
NO CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS.
(C) THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE RESERVE OF GOODWILL. THERE IS ALSO STRONG INTERESTS ON EVERYONE'S PART IN MAKING A SUCCESS OF THE JOINT
DECLARATION.
4. OTHER POINTS WHICH MAY BE RAISED IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE RELATE TO SINO-BRITISH TRADE/GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION, WITH POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS THAT BRITAIN PLACES A HIGHER PRIORITY ON PROMOTING ZRADE WITH CHINA THAN ON HONG KONG.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PROTOCOL D
NEWS D
NTD
PS/MR RENTON
PS PUS
SIR W. HARDING MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
REPEATED AS REQUESTID