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16. JAN 90 12:24 FROM COI TECHNICAL RADIO
TO FCO NEWS
PAGE.006/010
TRANSCRIPT B; FOREIGN SEC
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P.C. BONG KONG
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16 JAN 90
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QUESTION:
(not clear: whether the Foreign Secretary agrees with what
Mr. Li Hou said in Peking yesterday that the right of abode question
is one of those which hampers understanding and relationships
between the two countries)
PORBIGE SECRETARY;
The nationality package
―
it is not actually a right of abode
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package - which I proposed to the House of Commons just before
Christmas is not, of course, aimed against China and would not have
any damaging effects for Chinese interests.
It is designed indeed
to honour the important purpose of the Joint Declaration to maintain
the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. That is its purpose.
We have explained that to the Chinese Authorities and I hope that on
consideration, this will not be a continuing obstacle to dialogue
and cooperation.
Ve believe in this package. I go back to Britain confirmed
in my view that this will be a useful package and now we have to
concentrate on persuading the British Parliament to accept it and to
pass the legislation.
QUESTION:
Until now, it has been the practice in London to say that
until the British Government is aware of the Hong Kong consensus on
democracy, it cannot take a decision.
Do you now accept the UMELCO
view as the Hong Kong consensus of what they want on political
reform and do you think that there is any way of bridging the gap
between Beijing and this consensus?