CONFIDENTIAL
HURB 02713
B
210
114174
MDHOAN 7663
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 506
OF 08120OZ JUNE 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS NEW YORK, UKMIS GENEVA
SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, NEW YORK, 7 JUNE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD A HALF HOUR MEETING WITH QIAN
QICHEN IN NEW YORK ON 7 JUNE.
1.
2. QIAN SAID THAT HE KNEW OF THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD HAD WITH WU, AND HE HOPED TO HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THE SECRETARY OF STATE ENDORSED
THIS.
3. QIAN REFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RECENT VISIT TO
HONG KONG. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN GLAD TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING HOW THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS
WORKING OUT. THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT JOINT ENDEAVOUR. QIAN COMMENTED THAT THE CLOSEST COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UK
WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT GUARANTEE FOR HONG KONG. THE SECRETARY
OF STATE CONTINUED THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS A TENDENCY IN HONG KONG
TO BELIEVE THAT BRITAIN SOUGHT GOOD RELATIONS WITH CHINA AT THE EXPENSE OF HONG KONG. THIS WAS ABSURD BECAUSE NO SUCH CHOICE EXISTED IN PRACTICE. IT WAS NECESSARY ALL THE TIME TO GIVE REASSURANCE TO HONG KONG, SINCE CONFIDENCE WAS ALL IMPORTANT. THERE WAS AT PRESENT GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE BRAIN DRAIN.
IT
WAS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO CONTROL THIS AND TO ENTICE PEOPLE BACK
TO HONG KONG. IT SHOULD BE WATCHED AS AN INDEX OF CONFIDENCE.
HE APPRECIATED CHINESE OPENNESS ON THE BASIC LAW, WHICH WAS
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE BUSINESS OF PROMOTING CONFIDENCE,
WHICH HE HAD HIMSELF COMMENDED IN HONG KONG. QIAN SAID THAT HE
BELIEVED THE BASIS FOR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY EXISTED. REFORM
ON THE MAINLAND WAS ONE COMPONENT. THE PUBLICATION OF THE BASIC
LAW WAS ANOTHER. IT WAS TRUE THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE LEAVING HONG
KONG, BUT OTHERS WERE ARRIVING THERE: THIS WAS A PROCESS WHICH
HAD ALWAYS GONE
ON.
IF CHINA AND BRITAIN GOT THEIR TACTICS
RIGHT AND KEPT TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND PROVIDED WE
LISTENED TO THE OPINIONS OF VARIOUS CIRCLES IN HONG KONG TO
IMPROVE THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW, WE SHOULD GET THROUGH
ALL RIGHT. SOME HONG KONG PEOPLE SIMPLY WANTED TO HAVE THEIR
FEET IN TWO BOATS. HE BELIEVED THAT MANY WOULD RETURN TO HONG
KONG.
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL