CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG
in
6. We had
discussion about Hong Kong. I said that the economy was doing very well. But confidence, currently high, was fragile: it was entirely natural that there should be a good deal of underlying nervousness among Hong Kong people and this was something both sides would need to bear in mind as 1997 approached. When questioned I myself always took the line that China would respect the terms of the Joint Declaration the letter and in the spirit because it was in her interests to do so. Mr Zhang vigorously agreed. He recalled that even during the difficult days of 1967 China had been careful to maintain the status quo in Hong Kong. This was because both Mao and Zhou Enlai had realised that maintenance of the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong was in China's national interest. (Comment: Zhou's role is well known. I had not heard Mao adduced in this context before.)
7. Mr Zhang offered to act as a
channel if there were any points we particularly wished to get across to Peking in connection with the JLG. I said this was something we would bear in mind. I had made a similar point to his Ambassador.
19 October 1987
f
RJT McLaren