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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 521
OF 010957Z APRIL 93
INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON, PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
UK/HONG KONG POLICY ACT
1. THE US CONSULATE-GENERAL HAVE PASSED ON TO US THE US ADMINISTRATION'S REPORT TO CONGRESS ON CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, AS REQUIRED BY THE US/HONG KONG POLICY ACT. WE HAVE FAXED A COPY TO RICKETTS, HKD. THE CONSULATE-GENERAL EXPECT IT TO BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY BY CONGRESS.
2. MUCH OF THE REPORT IS ANODYNE. THE KEY SECTION IS ONE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG. AFTER DESCRIBING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS AND THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED WITH CHINA, THE REPORT REITERATES STRONG US SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG. THE ADMINISTRATION STATES ITS BELIEF THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ARE CONSTRUCTIVE. IT BELIEVES THAT THE ISSUE IS A MATTER TO BE WORKED OUT BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. IT EXPRESSES THE HOPE THAT UK/PRC NEGOTIATIONS RESUME SOON.
3. THERE WILL NO DOUBT BE THE USUAL CHINESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT INTERNATIONALISATION. WE DO NOT OURSELVES PLAN TO COMMENT ON THE REPORT OTHER THAN TO SAY WE WELCOME THE SUPPORTIVE APPROACH THE US TAKE TOWARDS OUR POLICY IN HONG KONG WHILE AGREEING THAT THE JD IS A MATTER FOR THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WAY IN WHICH THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG/US ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
4. WE EXPECT MANY WILL NOTE THE WISH EXPRESSED IN THE REPORT FOR SINO-BRITISH TALKS TO RESUME.
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