Some two months ago, we renewed our efforts to get talks
underway with China. Since then, there have been intensive
diplomatic contacts in Peking. It may be useful for the House
if I set out the basis on which we were prepared to hold
discussions.
First, we accepted that the talks should be on the basis of
the Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the
Basic Law and the relevant understandings and agreements
reached between Britain and China. We consider the Governor's
proposals to be wholly compatible with these.
Second, as I made plain to the House on 10 March, we told the
Chinese side that the British team in these discussions would
include representatives of the Hong Kong Government on the
same basis as other officials taking part in the talks. Hong
Kong officials have participated over the last ten years in
discussions with the Chinese side as members of the British
team, including during the negotiations on the Joint
Declaration and subsequently as members of the Joint Liaison
Group. We cannot and do not accept what some Chinese
officials have said in the last few days that people from
Hong Kong have no right to participate in discussions about
Hong Kong's future.
sosstatement15.3