SECRET
ZCZC
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO
OF 13093OZ MARCH 92
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM BURNS, AUSS
YOUR TELNO 778
IMMEDIATE
1. Over the last weeks we have engaged you in discussion of
various aspects of economic management in Hong Kong. I expect
the discussion to continue. You may well wonder what is afoot.
2. The importance of maintaining the overall autonomy of Hong
Kong in financial and economic matters is long established.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind at this end that it is very
important to preserve this autonomy and indeed to strengthen it
wherever possible, so that all those sections in the Joint
Declaration which deal with continuing autonomy in various
fields have the best possible chance of working out in practice.
3. This autonomy is qualified, as far as I can see, in two main
respects, and I think it is very important that in exercising
our interest in Hong Kong's economic and financial matters, we
do this in a way which does not compromise the autonomy of Hong
Kong in the future.
EM5
AUSS ASIA
R A BURNS
4.
270 2214
IR
•
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