SECRET
126720
MDHIAN 8083
FOR SINO-BRITISH OR SINO-HONG KONG RELATIONS IF WE WERE CONSISTENTLY BACKING OFF AND SEEKING AGREEMENT AT ALL COSTS. THE AIRPORT AGREEMENT AND MUCH THAT THE CHINESE DID IN THE JLG AMOUNTED TO A DEMAND FOR DANEGELD. THEN WHEN WE MADE EVERY ALLOWANCE FOR CHINA WE DID NOT ALWAYS GET A DEAL WHICH WORKED FOR HONG KONG. THE AIRPORT WAS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
27. BRITISH PARAMETERS NEVERTHELESS REMAINED UNCHANGED: THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE BASIC LAW AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION. WE TOOK THE JOINT DECLARATION SERIOUSLY. PRACTICE SHOULD CONFORM TO ITS
I HAD GOT INTO TROUBLE ON USE OF THE WORD FREEDOM, BUT PROMISES OF FREEDOMS WERE LITTERED THROUGHOUT THE JOINT DECLARATION.
•
28. THE CHINESE ATTACK HAD STARTED WAY BACK IN MAY, ON EXCO APPOINTMENTS. THEN THERE HAD BEEN AN ATTACK ON ANY NOTION OF MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. I HAD TAKEN THESE POINTS AS TWO ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS IN MOULDING MY PROPOSALS. WHAT I ANNOUNCED ON 7 OCTOBER WAS VERY MUCH A SECOND BEST AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY CHINESE REACTION WE COULD HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE FROM THE LIBERALS. BUT INSTEAD, WHEN THE CHINESE STEPPED UP THEIR OFFENSIVE, THE CHARGE OF A CHANGE OF BRITISH POLICY ONCE MORE AROSE BECAUSE I HAD NOT DASHED INTO THE SHRUBBERY.
29.
I SAID THAT I WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE OMELCO CONSENSUS. BUT I STILL HOPED THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WOULD COME OUT WITH A MORE DEMOCRATIC LEGCO AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA WHICH WAS BETTER NOT JUST THAN NOW BUT ALSO THAN BEFORE LAST SUMMER. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MEANT IT WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE PREPARED TO GO AS FAR AS HONG KONG WANTED TO GO. THAT POLICY WAS SUPPORTED BY THE THREE MAIN PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT. NOW CHINA WAS STEPPING UP THE PROPAGANDA ABOUT A 3 LEGGED STOOL. BUT I DID BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG NEEDED TO HAVE A BIT MORE OF A SAY IN ITS OWN FUTURE. 2 LEGGED STOOLS FELL OVER. I TOOK THE POINT
ABOUT CHINESE CULTURE. BUT THAT SURELY DID NOT MEAN NO CHANGE. LOOK AT TAIWAN OR OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE FAR EAST.
30.
AFTER A BREAK, I STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD TAKEN A DECISION MORE OR LESS RELUCTANTLY.
31.
I SUGGESTED, AND THE COUNCIL AGREED, THE FOLLOWING:
(A)
A STATEMENT WOULD BE ISSUED TODAY IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO....27.(1/
PAGE
SECRET
3