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grateful, and subsequently you, Minister, gave evidence to us
December. Since then events have moved on and we would be grateful if you
would share some thoughts with us at this still crucial stage on how you
see policy evolving and, indeed, how we all see the situation in Hong Kong
developing and settling. Could I, therefore, begin with what many regard
as the central issue, which is the relations with the People's Republic of
China and, indeed, contacts between the United Kingdom and China. The
Community agreed, I think, in Madrid after the terrible events in Tiananmen
Square to a whole range of sanctions against the Chinese government,
including "suspension of bilateral ministerial and high-level contacts". I
understand that the Government has now decided to end this ban and this is
going to be expressed by your visit to the PRC at the end of the month. Is
that right and can you explain what the background to this decision is?
(Mr Maude) Yes, indeed, Mr Chairman. Although there was a general
embargo, and still is, on European Community ministerial visits to China,
there was from the very outset an understanding by the Twelve that the
position of Portugal and of the United Kingdom was different because of
their very specific responsibilities for Macao and Hong Kong respectively.
So there was always, as it might be, a dispensation for ourselves and
Portugal to make such a visit and there were, indeed, back in July and
September last year two meetings between John Major (then Foreign
Secretary) and the Chinese Foreign Ministers
-
not in China but elsewhere
to discuss specifically Hong Kong issues. So it has always been understood
that high-level and fairly intense contacts between ourselves and the
People's Republic have to continue, particularly when there is so much
relevant to Hong Kong to be decided, and when the Foreign Secretary
explained to the European Community Foreign Ministers three weeks or so ago
that it was proposed that I may make this visit, there was total
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