CONFIDENTIAL
Поч
052676
MDHOAN 3976
MKB 09/4...
TOP COPY Q DIST?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA
TELNO 336
OF 21104OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, WASHINGTON -
MESSAGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
1.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM ME TO THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER. PLEASE ARRANGE FOR IT TO BE
DELIVERED.
BEGINS
P
I KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT TAKE A CLOSE INTEREST AND RIGHTLY SO - IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. FOLLOWING YOUR VISIT TO CHINA IN APRIL, AND YOUR TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
AT THAT TIME AND AGAIN IN CANBERRA EARLIER THIS MONTH I WOULD
LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA
OVER HONG KONG.
IN THE REMAINING YEARS OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG WE
WILL NEED TO INTENSIFY OUR COOPERATION WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG, IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN 1997. THIS IS STIPULATED IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. THAT AGREEMENT ALSO STIPULATES THAT BRITAIN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997. THESE CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN REFLECTED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE CHINESE OVER THE AIRPORT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THE PROJECT EFFICIENTLY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE PROJECT ON THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997: WE HAVE MADE PROPOSALS WHICH SHOULD MEET THESE CONCERNS. OUR NEGOTIATORS ARE IN PEKING FOR TALKS ON THOSE MATTERS.
I HOPE THAT IN PRIVATE CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASISE TO THEM THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND TO THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY: AND THAT INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG WILL BE ENHANCED IF BRITAIN AND CHINA CAN COOPERATE EFFECTIVELY TO MANAGE THE TRANSITION TO CHINESE
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