WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1983
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+A GREAT CHINESE LEADER ONCE REFERRED TO THE NEED TO WORK FOR COMMON GROUND, TO PUT THE DIFFICULTIES ON ONE SIDE AND TRY AND BUILD ON THE COMMON GROUND. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE ALL THAT IS GOOD IN HONG KONG AND CONSTRUCT TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE.
+NOW I WANT TO SAY THAT IN BROAD TERMS THERE IS A GOOD FRAMEWORK TO ANGLO-CHINESE RELATIONS, BUT EQUALLY I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS UNHELPFUL AND SAD THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE PART OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE BRITISH POSITION ARE NOT HELPFUL TO THE COMMON AIM OF FINDING A SOLUTION.
+NOW WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE ALL OF US - AND I MEAN ALL OF US TOGETHER - NEED IS REALISM IN NOT UNDERESTIMATING THE DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS AHEAD, AND ON THE OTHER HAND A TOTAL DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED IN OUR OBJECTIVE,
+MY FINAL POINT THAT I WOULD WISH TO MAKE TO YOU IS THIS: THAT AS A FURTHER STEP IN THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, AND ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO CONSULTATION, CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE VISITING LONDON NEXT WEEK.
+THAT'S ALL I'D LIKE TO SAY BY MEANS OF OPENING REMARKS, I'M HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.+ ·
Q: +MINISTER, YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, OR AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, HAVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE FUTURE BEEN UNANIMOUS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?
A: +WELL, FIRST OF ALL I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT DURING ALL THESE VARIOUS MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRANGED - AND VERY EFFICIENTLY SO I THINK ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO'S HAD A CHANCE SITTING IN THOSE ROOMS HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPRESS HIS OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS AND THE OPINIONS I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IN MANY CASES ARE REPRESENTING PARTICULAR SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. I GOT VERY MUCH THE FEELING THAT THE VAST MAJORITY WERE EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS VERY FREELY AND VERY FULLY. IF YOU LIKE, A COMMON STRAND THAT WAS COMING THROUGH WAS THE ASPIRATION AND THE STRONG DESIRE TO PRESERVE ALL THE FREEDOMS AND THE BASES. IF YOU LIKE. OF A STABLE SOCIETY THAT EXISTS TODAY IN HONG KONG. THAT I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
Q: +MINISTER, COULD YOU TELL US IN MEETING VARIOUS GROUPS OF PEOPLE DO YOU THINK THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE IN HONG KONG WANT THE BRITISH TO STAY BEYOND 1997?
A: +WELL, NOW I THINK WHAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND IT'S FOR THEM INCIDENTALLY, YOU'RE A FREE SOCIETY TOO - TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN VIEWS AS THEY WISH IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN INCLINATIONS - I THINK I SENSE THAT ABOVE ALL WHAT THEY WANT IS IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE IS AND THAT IS THE CONTINUATION AND THE CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION OF A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS COUNTRY. THAT IS, I BELIEVE, WHAT THEY WANT AND THAT I HAVE REASSURED THEM, AS I REASSURE YOU, IS VERY MUCH OUR OBJECTIVE. NOW, CLEARLY I WOULDN'T WISH TO GO BEYOND THAT IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE REASONS THAT I'VE DESCRIBED, BUT THAT WE HAVE A COMMON ASPIRATION ON A COMMON OBJECTIVE IS QUITE CLEAR.
Q: +MINISTER
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