UNCLASSIFIED
054717
MDHOAN 4280
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 919
OF 161919Z NOV 92
HKC 012/4.
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TOF
Q DIJT?
pa.
Y
VISIT OF ZHU RONGJI: STATEMENT ON HONG KONG
SUMMARY
1.
ZHU RONGJI PUTS ON THE RECORD, PRESUMABLY FOR THE BRITISH PRESS, THE FORMAL CHINESE POSITION ON THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. A FIRM AND UNCOMPROMISING POSITION
WITH A HINT OF MENACE.
DETAIL
2. DURING ZHU RONGJI'S APPEARANCE AT CHATHAM HOUSE ON 16 NOVEMBER, THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR ASKED THE CHAIRMAN, SIR ADRIAN SWIRE, TO ASK THE VICE-PREMIER FOR HIS VIEWS ON THE HONG KONG SITUATION.
3.
ZHU REPLIED THAT IT WAS NOT EASY FOR HIM TO HANDLE THIS QUESTION. HIS VISIT HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND HE
WAS NOT HERE TO NEGOTIATE OR DISCUSS THE HONG KONG QUESTION. HE WAS NEVERTHELESS READY TO RESPOND. THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG, AND THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT WERE THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF BRITAIN AND CHINA UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION. THEY ALSO ACCORDED WITH THE INTERESTS OF BRITAIN AND CHINA AND, MORE PARTICULARLY, OF HONG KONG. THE 1984 SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE BEST PERIOD IN HISTORY IN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. LATER THE TWO GOVERNMENTS HAD REACHED IMPORTANT UNDERSTANDINGS AND AGREEMENTS ON HOW TO MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG CONVERGE WITH THE BASIC LAW. LAST YEAR THE TWO SIDES HAD SIGNED THE MOU ON THE AIRPORT. TAKEN TOGETHER
THESE AGREEMENTS FORMED THE BASIS FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSITION IN
HONG KONG.
4.
RECENTLY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD INTRODUCED MAJOR POLICY CHANGES IN RELATION TO POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE WERE
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