COLABS
HKB
04014-
"ANY QUESTIONS", 8 SEPTEMBER
HONG KONG
Points to Make
FILE.
Confidence in Hong Kong still bruised.
Doing all we can to
rebuild confidence and demonstrate continuing British commitment to
Hong Kong.
Measures include
-
review of programme for democratisation; introduction of Bill of Rights; and package on nationality designed to give assurances to key personnel in both public and private
sectors to encourage them to stay in Hong Kong.
Will continue to emphasise to our friends and partners in the
international community that they have a shared responsibility to
help.
We have already raised Hong Kong's situation on a number of
occasions including the Madrid European Council and the Paris
Economic Summit.
Will resume contacts in JLG later this Autumn. Does not
indicate weakening of general condemnation of China, but recognises
special position of Hong Kong and need to continue preparation for
transfer in 1997.
124
Will seek China's cooperation in taking further steps to help rebuild confidence, eg in revising Basic Law to ensure that it commands wide confidence and meets Hong Kong concern.
Not questioning China's right to station troops in what will be
its sovereign territory; but will seek to impress on them value for
Hong Kong's confidence of not doing so in light of PLA's recent
brutality against unarmed civilians.
-
Political realities in Hong Kong have changed since 4 June: hope
to reach common understanding of this fact with the Chinese as a
foundation for our further cooperation.