ROBERT ADLEY, MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
21st April 1993
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Thank you so much for your letter of 19th April and I am sorry to continue correspondence about Hong Kong.
Like you, I warmly welcomed the resumption of discussions between the British and Chinese Governments. I had a private meeting with the Ambassador here about three weeks ago and impressed upon him the need for the Chinese Government to take the initiative and seek to reopen bi-lateral discussions.
I think it would be wrong to under-estimate two points: firstly, the Chinese attachment to sovereignty over what they have always seen as their own land: secondly, the fact that their ambition on Hong Kong has been simultaneously to change things as little as possible, whilst maintaining the proposition that they are guiding events over their own Territory.
One point in your letter that still bothers me is your reference to "the manifest desire of people in Hong Kong for a greater say in the running of their own affairs". I believe that this manifest desire is actually limited to a small portion of the population. Let us never forget that the United Democrats obtained the votes of less than 9% of those eligible to register to vote.
Hong Kong's past and present
present success owes nothing however regrettably! - to democracy either in China or Hong Kong. It could fairly be said that those who guided Hong Kong's affairs both in the Foreign Office and within the Hong Kong Government have, over the years, done a remarkably good job.
The Rt Hon John Major, MP
The Prime Minister
10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA
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