17 February 1992
Mr W D Oakley
27 Western Avenue Bromborough
Wirral, Merseyside L62 3LT
HKC 031/4
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
Dear in Oakley,
см
attached
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
Thank you for your letter of the 2 February to the Prime Minister to which I have been asked to reply.
In 1984, the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China (PRC) signed a Joint Declaration on the question of Hong Kong which provides for the smooth transition of Hong Kong from being a British territory to being a Special Administrative Region of the PRC on 1 July 1997. There can be no question of our backtracking from this Declaration which, in our view, represents the best possible solution to the question of Hong Kong. Of the territory of Hong Kong (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories), 92% would, under the Treaty of Nanking, revert to the PRC anyway. The remaining 8% would not be viable either as a territory of the United Kingdom or as an independent state.
Article 29 of the Joint Declaration states that, among other things, the current social and economic systems, the lifestyle rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong "will remain unchanged for 50 years." China describes this policy as "one country, two systems." Recently the Chinese leadership are reported to have said that all being well there should be no reason why this could not extend to 100 years. While I recognise your concern regarding Hong Kong, I believe there is far less reason to fear for the people of Hong Kong and their way of life.
Nevertheless, we share your concerns about reports of human rights abuses in China and have taken every opportunity, both bilaterally and with our European partners, to make our views known to the Chinese authorities. The Foreign Secretary has discussed this issue on several occasions with the Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and, on his visit to Peking in September, the Prime Minister spoke forcefully to
Premier Li Peng about British concerns over human rights in China, specifically citing the the treatment of religious believers, student demonstrators and the situation in Tibet. He reminded Premier Li Peng of our concern when they met in New York at the end of January.
Your Sincerely
Rod Bunti
fop Dr S D Harkin
Hong Kong Department
ALMAAT
JRB
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