bilat.min
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I have noticed recent comments by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesmen that the Hong Kong question before 1 July 1997
is a bilateral issue between our two Governments and after
that date will be purely China's internal affair.
As you will be aware the Joint Declaration lays down certain
guarantees concerning Hong Kong until 30 June 1997. As a
signatory to the Joint Declaration the Government of the
United Kingdom has a legitimate interest in ensuring that
those guarantees are implemented. Furthermore the Joint
Declaration lays down that the Sino-British Joint Liaison
Group will continue to meet until 30 June 2000.
We are concerned that the statements of the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman and others may be interpreted as implying
that the United Kingdom does not have a locus to raise
matters relating to the implementation of the Joint Declaration with the Chinese Government after 1 July 1997.
I trust that the Ambassador will be able to assure me that
this is not the case.
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