ARYAB Z
DEBATE ON HONG KONG, 15 JULY: DEFENSIVE POINTS FOR USE
BY SECRETARY OF STATE
A:
Sino British relations and Hong Kong
1. Britain caved in to Chinese pressure on direct elections?
in
Nonsense. Decisions were taken by HMG and HKG alone, response to the views and wishes of the Hong Kong community as a
whole.
2.
Broken promises on direct elections on 1988?
Not true. We fulfilled every undertaking to the letter.
Undertaking given in 1984 was only to consider direct
elections in 1987 review. We have done this.
3. Britain puts its relations with China before Hong Kong's interests?
Nonsense. History of negotiation and implementation of Joint Declaration is one of tenacious pursuit of Hong Kong's
interests.
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To suggest that we subordinate Hong Kong to China is to overlook our own substantial interests in Hong Kong itself.
But Hong Kong's interests are not best served by open confrontation: Hong Kong prospers when London and Peking are in
harmony.
B:
Hong Kong Government a lame duck administration
Not true. Anyone who has seen the Hong Kong Government
operating cannot fail to have been impressed by its efficiency and decisiveness. Its handling of the crisis over Vietnamese boat
people shows this clearly.