CONFIDENTIAL
which Hong Kong's prospects are perceived, both by the
people of Hong Kong and by the international community.
But as co-signatory of the Joint Declaration, Britain is
well placed to influence the thinking and actions of the
Chinese Government; and as the power responsible for the
We
administration of Hong Kong until 1997 we have an
opportunity to develop policies that will serve, and be
seen to serve, Hong Kong's best interests after 1997.
can also do a very great deal to boost local morale and
confidence by discharging in a full and wholehearted way
our responsibilities towards the territory and by
demonstrating the importance we attach to our bilateral
relationship with Hong Kong. We must start now to
establish the foundations of a relationship that will
endure and flourish after 1997.
Against this background, our current main objectives
for Hong Kong can be summarised as follows:
3.
(a) to ensure that the Chinese Government stick to
the assurances in the Joint Declaration about Hong Kong's
future and to work steadily for the full implementation
of that Agreement;
(b) to prepare Hong Kong for the change of
sovereignty, in particular by the steady development of
representative government in the territory in line with
the wishes of the community as a whole; by ensuring a
smooth transfer of authority in 1997; and by measures to
enhance before 1997 the high degree of autonomy that