HKB 011/3
Re
29 JUL 1988
DESK OFFICER
From the Secretary of State
INDEX
PA
REC
#40634
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Action Takt.. 28 July 1988
Danie
Thank you for your letter of 18 July.
sau
I
see
6208633
HK
(with incoming letter) to Miss Jessie Yip, GDR, Enter spa 125 +
I am sorry you'
were not able to be present during the debate, but I welcome
your interest in these matters.
As I made clear to the House on 15 July, we are doing all we can to defend Hong Kong's legitimate concerns and interests. In addition to our obligations to the people of Hong Kong, we have the right to satisfy ourselves that the Basic Law faithfully implements the principles embodied in the Joint Declaration. All this is firmly on the record and well understood by the authorities in Peking.
I also explained to the House that we have been
pursuing extensive contacts with the Chinese authorities in which the Basic Law has been discussed in great depth. I have raised the matter with my Chinese opposite number several times. We are certainly not leaving it all to
Chinese good intentions. We have had a confidential
dialogue with the Chinese for some time. We have no doubt that it has influenced the drafting process. Our aim is to ensure that the revised draft takes account of the concerns
expressed in Hong Kong, some of which you refer to in your letter. You will, however, have seen from Hansard that it
is recognised on both sides of the House that the drafting of the Basic Law is the sovereign right of China. We must
take account of Chinese sensitivities. To conduct a dialogue with the Chinese authorities by public proclamation would be counter productive. I am clear that the sort of
firm pressure we have been exerting behind the scenes is the
best way to get positive results.
The Rt Hon David Howell MP