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3. PAUL SAID THAT FIFOOT WAS HOPING TO HAVE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH SHAO IN AUGUST. WE ATTACHED IMPORTANCE THIS DIALOGUE. HE ALSO ADDED THAT VARIOUS GROUPS FROM HONG HAD CALLED ON MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS LAST WEEK. WE HAD SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO THE CHINESE SIDE, THROUGH THE BLCC AND DIRECT TO MAINLAND DRAFTERS, EITHER WHEN THE SECOND GROUP VISIT HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER, OR BY GOING TO PEKING.
4. MADAME ZHANG SAID SHE AGREED WITH PAUL'S ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN POINTS IN THE DEBATE, SHE UNDERTOOK TO FORWARD TO PEKING THE HANSARD RECORD OF THE DEBATE, WHICH SHE WOULD IN ANY CASE BE REPORTING. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WERE COMMITTED TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION: AND TO WORKING OUT A BASIC LAW WHICH TOOK ACCOUNT OF THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG AND PRESERVED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WELCOMED VIEWS ON THE BASIC LAW FROM ALL QUARTERS, INCLUDING MPS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES. SHE WELCOMED THE RECOGNITION FROM ALL SIDES IN THE DEBATE THAT THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW WAS CHINA'S SOVEREIGN RIGHT. SHE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE DRAFT BASIC LAW WOULD BE REVISED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CONCERNS WHICH HAD EMERGED. THE OPINIONS PUT FORWARD IN THE DEBATE AND IN HONG KONG WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
5.
MINISTERS UNDERTOOK IN THE DEBATE TO ARRANGE FOR LEGCO'S VIEWS TO BE CONVEYED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD FORWARD A COPY OF THE LEGCO HANSARD TO PEKING. WOULD PEKING PLEASE THEN HAND THE RECORD TO THE MFA, REFERRING TO THE UNDERTAKING GIVEN TO PARLIAMENT THAT THIS WOULD BE DONE.
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DISTRIBUTION
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56
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
PS
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RESEARCH
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PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
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