CONFIDENTIAL
Ves
052707
MDHOAN 3978
TOP COPY Q DIST ?M43 44
WH
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA
TELNO 247
OF 21103OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, WASHINGTON
MESSAGE TO THE CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
1.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM ME TO THE CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER. PLEASE ARRANGE FOR IT TO BE DELIVERED TO COINCIDE WITH PRIME MINISTER MULRONEY'S VISIT TO HONG KONG (22-25 MAY).
BEGINS
I KNOW THAT YOUR PRIME MINISTER WILL SHORTLY BE VISITING HONG
KONG. I THEREFORE WANTED 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 MET THESE CONCERNS. OUR NEGOTIATORS ARE IN PEKING FOR TALKS ON THESE 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 SOVEREIGNTY.
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL