CONFIDENTIAL
the
hievements so far. None of this has been won
easily: each agreement has required meticulous and
persistent negotiation in order to secure the best
possible arrangements for Hong Kong on terms fully
consistent with the Joint Declaration.
6. Much remains to be done (the outline agenda for the
coming years is at Annex II). We are on schedule so far;
but in order to keep up the momentum we shall need to
sustain firm and steady pressure on the Chinese at all
levels and to continue the process of educating them
about the realities and sensitivities of Hong Kong
process which of course began with the negotiations of
the Joint Declaration.
Basic Law
7.
Our influence on the drafting of the Basic Law has
been no less important. While maintaining the public
position that the drafting is the responsibility of
China, we have succeeded in establishing a number of
channels through which to influence the drafting process.
Our impact on the draft has been a significant one. We
have moreover secured the tacit acknowledgement by the
Chinese of Parliament's right to debate the draft and to
have their views passed through diplomatic channels to
the authorities in Peking. Annex III contains a summary
of the improvements which we know have been made to the
first draft (published in April 1988) and which will
appear in the second draft (to be published in April