this should happen in 1988.
I hope that the debate on Hong Kong which took place
on 20 January
s/witt
en 20 January in the House of Commons wit
д
have served to
made make clear the government's position, en this
also trust that
it
itt have demonstrated that there is
no question of any broken promises or of the government
having gone back on any commitments to the people of Hong
Kong on the subject of direct elections.
At no time did
the British Government promise that direct elections
would be introduced in 1988. I am enclosing a copy of
the Foreign Secretary's opening statement, in the debate
which sets out the government's views on Hong-Kong
issues, and in particular the developments of
representative government in Hong Kong, in some-detail.
You refer to views and pressures from the Chinese
We have to
authorities.
Itis-surely right that we should take
account of the historical and geographical realities
which have always determined Hong Kong's development.
These will apply after 1997, just as they have applied in
the period of British administration.
We attach great
considerable importance to achieving a high degree of
institutional continuity in 1997, which is clearly in the
interests of a smooth transition.
But this does not mean
that we have in any sense abrogated our responsibility
for Hong Kong or allowed ourselves to be deflected from
the path which we believe to be right.