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FM PARIS
TO TELELETTER FCO
TELELETTER NFR
OF 131321Z NOVEMBER 91
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BRUSSELS FOR HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
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163405 MDTTAN 6637
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ساره
Са
FROM N CANNON, PARIS
TO MISS K SAUNDERS, HKD,FCO
COPIED TO POLITICAL ADVISER, HONG KONG
UKREP JLG HONG KONG
HKGO BRUSSELS
CHIRAC'S VISIT TO HONG KONG : 8-9 NOVEMBER
1
'LE MONDE' OF 13 NOVEMBER CARRIED A REPORT OF THE VISIT OF JACQUES CHIRAC, FORMER FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, TO HONG KONG. CHIRAC WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE WAS 'NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED' BY THE GOVERNOR'S JUSTIFICATION OF HMG'S POLICY ON THE FUTURE OF HONG
KONG.
2.
AFTER HIS CALL ON YEUNG SUM, CHIRAC REPORTEDLY TOLD THE PRESS THAT HE WAS 'CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF THE 1984 ANGLO-CHINESE JOINT DECLARATION IN SO FAR AS IT CONCERNS GUARANTEES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY, THE LIBERAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF ITS LEGAL SYSTEM'. 'LE MONDE NOTED THAT THIS LAST POINT WAS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN THE LIGHT OF THE JLG AGREEMENT ON THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL, ALLOWING FOR ONLY ONE JUDGE OF FOREIGN ORIGIN.
3.
CHIRAC WENT ON TO PROPOSE AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION, NOMINATED BY THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AND OPERATING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 'TO MONITOR THE 1984 AGREEMENT' AND
* GUARANTEE THE FUTURE OF THE SIX MILLION INHABITANTS OF HONG KONG'. CHIRAC SUGGESTED THAT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT LAUNCH SUCH AN
INITIATIVE IN COORDINATION WITH WESTERN PARTNERS.
COMMENT
4.
THIS PROPOSAL HAS MORE TO DO WITH CHIRAC'S PERSONAL NEED TO PRESENT HIMSELF AS A STATESMAN OF INTERNATIONAL STATURE
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