PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME:
1 APRIL
HKB 011/6
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
U11 1993
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
66
HONG KONG
- As the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 15 March, we want talks with China. We have done everything possible to get talks underway. The door remains open.
- The Foreign Secretary remains willing to meet the Chinese Foreign Minister if such a meeting would be useful. Too early to judge when the right moment would be.
(Defensive: Peking to set up working group to prepare for 1997)
- Under the Joint Declaration Britain is responsible for administering Hong Kong up to July 1997.
- Chinese leaders say they will abide by the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.
(Defensive: threats to British commercial interests in China)
- Trade with China is growing and the balance of trade is in China's favour. Hope Chinese leaders will see that it is in everyone's interests that Hong Kong should not spill over into our broader bilateral relationship.
(Defensive: second group of
Hong Kong "Advisers" appointed by Peking.)
- No problem with Peking having advice from a wide range of Hong Kong opinion.
Sir David Akers-Jones is a distinguished former Hong Kong civil servant. Entitled to his views. Hope he will convey to Chinese Government the strong wish of Hong Kong people for more democracy.
pm. 18mar.PR
SLM