1990-01-16 14:57 COI RADIO TECH SERVICES.
01 928 8607
P.08
TRANSCRIPT D: FOREIGN SEC P.C. HONG KONG 16 JAN 90
CHRISTOPHER LOCKWOOD:
Are you saying that the draft Basic Law is basically now in
conformity with the Joint Declarationb?
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
No, I am not. I am saying we have taken the opportunities
open to us to make representations about it. I think I also said,
in answer to an earlier question, that we agreed that we should not
publish those representations, but we have taken the opportunities
open to us to influence the draft Basic Law even though, under the
terms of the Agreement, we are not, as it were, a negotiating party
to that.
QUESTION:
Mr. Foreign Secretary, the Chinese repeatedly attacked the
Hong Kong Alliance in support of the Full Democracy Movement in
China which is based in Hong Kong, as being subversive.
Has there been any pressure exerted on you to disband this
organisation and do you think the existence of this organisation
will stand in the way of good S140-British relations?
FORBIGN SECRETARY:
No. When this kind of point has been raised, we have had to
explain to the Chinese Government and we will have to go on
explaining to it that a fundamental point about Hong Kong is that
people are allowed to express these opinions and that is not
subversion
that is the expression of free opinion and we shall
go on having to make that point.
It is a fundamental point.