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suggestion of the "internationalisation" of the Hong Kong problem and have missed no opportunity to react strongly Cand publicly) when they have suspected moves in this direction (eg.
References to the CHOGM communique at Kuala Lumpur in 1989). (unrealistic) hopes of the UN or the international community "guaranteeing" the future of the people of Hong Kong therefore fuel Chinese suspicions without achieving anything of practical
benefit.
That said, we welcome the fact that senior representatives of countries like France, with an economic stake in Hong Kong should take a close interest in developments there, both economic and political. We hope that our friends and allies will concentrate their energies on explaining to the Chinese the importance of sticking closely to the terms of the Joint Declaration, which provides for a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong post 1997 in many areas. This remains the only basis on which Hong Kong people can continue to have the rights and freedoms which they have previously enjoyed.
We know from experience that private reminders from Hong Kong's trading partners that Chinese words and deeds towards Hong Kong will strongly influence international business confidence in the territory (and hence its prosperity and stability), is more effective than public advocacy of
international guarantees.
3.
Bouchard showed an intelligent and well informed interest in Hong Kong. I gave him a copy in confidence of a letter which Lord Caithness has recently circulated to interested members of Parliament. We are sending you a copy of this by bag in case it is of interest. He did not think that the Quai would run with the idea of "internationalising" the Hong Kong problem: the
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