ARPADM
lite
50
MRB 090/Q.
20 ANDRS
DEBATE ON HONG KONG: DEFENSIVE POINTS FOR USE BY SECRETARY OF STATE
A.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
1.
Britain caving in to Chinese pressure on direct elections? No question of this.
alone.
2.
Decisions being taken by HMG and HKG
Full account taken of Hong Kong people's views.
Broken promises on direct elections in 1988?
Not true. Every undertaking fulfilled to the letter.
Undertaking given in 1984 was only to consider direct elelctions
in 1987 review. We have done this.
3. Britain's contacts with China over Hong Kong are contrary to
Joint Declaration/run counter to Hong Kong's interests.
-
Certainly not. Natural that we should keep in close contact over implementation of Joint Declaration and other matters of common interest. Joint Declaration explicitly provides for this.
These contacts in no way detract from Britain's responsibility
for administration of Hong Kong up to 30 June 1997.
4.
Essential that direct elections should be introducted at
earliest possible date (in 1988).
Suggest that overriding concern should be to take proper account of views expressed by Hong Kong people: avoid division or instability in community.
5.
1
Martin Lee
Met Lee yesterday. Listened carefully to what he has to say. Rejected his allegations of broken promises and bad faults,
which he could not substantiate.
Told him evidence did not support claim that his views were shared by overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people.