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TO IMMEDIATE
TELNO 1965
KC031/22
+
HONG KONG
OF 29193OZ SEPTEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
FROM MCLAREN
JLG XIII : PRESS TEA PARTY
M
1 FOLLOWING ARE OPENING REMARKS WHICH I SHALL MAKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRITISH SIDE'S PRESS TEA PARTY SCHEDULED FOR
2916OOZ. MIFT CONTAINS NON-ATTRIBUTABLE MATERIAL ON WHICH WE
SHALL DRAW AS NECESSARY THEREAFTER.
BEGINS
1. AS WILL BE VERY PLAIN THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL MEETING. THE COMMUNIQUE REFERS TO A FULL AND FRANK EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG. YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM THIS THAT THERE WAS SOME STRAIGHT TALK. EACH SIDE SET OUT CLEARLY ITS OWN VIEW OF
THE SITUATION. BOTH SIDES AGREE THAT THERE IS (IS) A PROBLEM OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH WE CONTINUE TO DIFFER ON ITS CAUSES.
2.
BRITISH SIDE SET OUT IN DETAIL AND IN A FORWARD LOOKING MANNER OUR OWN VIEW ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE. WE EXPLAINED THE ACTION BEING TAKEN OR PLANNED BY THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY GAVE DETAILS OF THESE ACTIONS IN HIS UN SPEECH.
3. BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ARE ALSO TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT HONG KONG'S CONTINUED CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS IS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THAT HONG KONG NEEDS INTERNATIONAL
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY MADE THIS POINT
VERY CLEAR ALSO IN HIS NEW YORK SPEECH.
4 WE SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF MEASURES WHICH CHINA COULD TAKE TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE. WE WELCOME THE STATEMENTS BY CHINESE LEADERS THAT CHINA'S POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG ARE UNCHANGED. WELCOME THE REAFFIRMATION OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO JOINT DECLARATION. BUT WE ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT CHINESE POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG WILL
BE JUDGED AS MUCH BY WHAT CHINA DOES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS
BY WHAT SHE SAYS.
5.
BASIC LAW A CASE IN POINT. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO GET IT RIGHT. IF IT IS TO COMMAND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE DRAFTERS LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG
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