RESTRICTED
FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 248
OF 16090OZ NOVEMBER 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
(Hoom file.
RESTRICTED
нив ого 123
A
005563
MDHIAN 4805
TOP COPY
DIST ?
FCO TELNO 1947 TO WASHINGTON: INTERNATIONALISATION OF THE HONG KONG
QUESTION: PRESS LINE
1. COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR ATTEMPTS TO QUOTE INTERNATIONALISE UNQUOTE THE HONG KONG QUESTION, FOR EXAMPLE BY RAISING IT AT CHOGM AND BY THE GOVERNOR DISCUSSING IT ON HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, HAVE NOW BECOME AN ESTABLISHED PART OF THE CHINESE LITANY, OF WHICH THE PRESS HERE ARE WELL AWARE. THEY ARE LIKELY TO REPEAT THESE COMPLAINTS AT JLG XIV NEXT MONTH. WE AND CHRIS OSBORNE ARE COMING UNDER SOME PRESSURE HERE FROM THE PRESS TO RESPOND TO SUCH CHARGES.
THE LINE TO TAKE IN TUR WAS DESIGNED FOR THE SPECIFIC ISSUE OF
CHOGM. I FEEL WE NOW NEED A MORE GENERAL LINE TO TAKE. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING LINE. WHICH HAS BEEN CLEARED WITH HKG, AND WHICH IS INTENDED AS A QUERY TO BE DRAWN ON AS APPROPRIATE. OF COURSE WE WILL NEED TO WORK ON A
SLIGHTLY SHARPER RESPONSE FOR USE AT JLG XIV.
ここけ
2. JOINT DECLARATION (JD) IS A BILATERAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN
AND CHINA. IT IS THEREFORE OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS' JOINT AND UNDISPUTED RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT THAT AGREEMENT AND PREPARE FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. WE HAVE NEVER SOUGHT TO
INVOLVE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THIS PROCESS. ACCORDINGLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND BASIS OF THE CHINESE COMPLAINT.
PROSPERITY OF THE FUTURE SAR DEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG
DURING AND BEYOND THE PERIOD OF TRANSITION. THE JD ITSELF MAKES CLEAR THAT THE SAR SHOULD REMAIN AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE.
THIS SUPPORT VITAL FOR HONG KONG IF IT IS TO MAINTAIN STATUS AS TRULY INTERNATIONAL CITY AND REGIONAL CENTRE (EG LARGEST INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER PORT, 11TH IN LEAGUE OF WORLD'S TRADING ECONOMIES, 136 OVERSEAS INCORPORATED BANKS).
FOR THESE REASONS BOTH BRITAIN AND CHINA VIGOROUSLY PROMOTED JD
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED