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PQ ON SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG
DRAFT WRITTEN REPLY
I paid an official visit to China from 3-8 April at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister, and visited
This was the Hong Kong for a day at each end of that visit. first visit by a Foreign Secretary to China since 1986.
In Peking I had two full sessions of talks with the Foreign Minister and met the Party General Secretary, the Premier, the Chairman of the National People's Congress and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. the Foreign Minister I covered major international issues of common concern, including the Middle East, arms proliferation, and Cambodia.
With
I raised
We also discussed a number of
bilateral matters, including commercial relations. our concerns about human rights, including in Tibet, both with the Foreign Minister and with the General Secretary.
A central element in my discussions was Hong Kong. ̈
The Chinese
The atmosphere of these talks was positive. reaffirmed their support for the Joint Declaration and agreed that we should strengthen the work of the Joint Liaison Group. We were unable to achieve a breakthrough on the question of Chinese support for the Hong Kong Government's plans for the new airport talks but on this subject have continued. Our dealings with China over Hong Kong remain based on the Joint Declaration and two crucial principles: cooperation between Britain, China and Hong Kong and the maintenance of the effective authority of the Hong Kong Government between now and 1997.
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