The Hong Kong Government will need to take account of this, and all other relevant factors, in the decisions which it will announce in its White Paper on 10 February.
The suggestion that we are putting UK trade with China before the interests of Hong Kong is frankly nonsense. We have upheld and will continue to uphold Hong Kong's interests to the full. As Geoffrey Howe said in the House of Commons on 20 January, it would be an illusion to suppose that we could create good relations with China at the expense of Hong Kong: Hong Kong prospers when London and Peking are in harmony. Our aim is to secure the firmest possible foundation for the future stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
Finally, you refer to the reception given by the FCO to the delegations from Hong Kong led by Mr Martin Lee, in December last year. The fact is that I did offer to meet Mr Lee, in recognition of his special position as a Legislative Councillor. We considered that Mr Lee was well able to represent to me the views of the rest of his delegation. To my regret, Mr Lee declined my offer. But he subsequently agreed to our offer of meetings with the Foreign Secretary and myself on a subsequent visit earlier this month. He and his delegation also had a meeting with senior officials in the FCO at that time. consider the reception accorded to Mr Lee and his delegation to have been a perfectly proper one.
I hope that my comments will have reassured you about our continuing commitment to the people of Hong Kong. We are determined to carry out our responsibilities in full in the years ahead.
I am enclosing with this letter a copy of the Hansard record of Geoffrey Howe's opening statement in the debate on Hong Kong to which I have referred. This sets out in detail the Government's views on Hong Kong issues, including those I have covered in this letter.
Yam
यू
imen
I
THE LORD GLENARTHUR