MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1984
SIR GEOFFREY INTERVIEWED ON PEKING VISIT
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FOLLOWING IS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY BY GEORGE YEATMAN OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF INFORMATION, BEFORE HE LEFT LONDON:
G YEATMAN: SIR GEOFFREY WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT NOW TO PEKING AND HONG KONG?
SIR GEOFFREY HOWE: I AM GOING TO PEKING AT THE INVITATION OF THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO DISCUSS A NUMBER OF MATTERS WITH HIM, OF COURSE INCLUDING HONG KONG. THIS BREAK IN PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE, THE EASTER RECESS HERE, DOES GIVE ME A VERY GOOD CHANCE TO GET UP TO DATE WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE TALKS ON ALL THOSE MATTERS THERE AND THEN. I AM GOING ON TO HONG KONG IN ORDER TO TAKE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY OF BRINGING MYSELF UP TO DATE ON THE GROUND WITH OPINION AND FACT IN HONG KONG ITSELF. I THINK PEOPLE PERHAPS DO NOT REALISE THE IMPORTANCE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER AND I ATTACH TO THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR TOP FOREIGN POLICY PREOCCUPATIONS.
I HAVE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME KEEPING VERY CLOSELY IN TOUCH ABOUT IT. TALKING TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE CAN LAY MY HANDS ON, WHO OBVIOUSLY CAN LAY THEIR HANDS ON ME, ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR HONG KONG BECAUSE IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
G YEATMAN: WHAT ARE BRITAIN'S AIMS IN CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC?
SIR GEOFFREY: WELL OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO SECURE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WILL ASSURE THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, THAT IS ONE OF THE AGREED COMMON AIMS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, ON A BASIS THAT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, TO PARLIAMENT AS WELL AS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
I KNOW VERY MUCH HOW MUCH IMPORTANCE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ATTACH TO THE NEED FOR STABILITY AND CONTINUITY OF THE FREEDOMS AND SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE EXISTED THERE THUS FAR AND IT WILL BE MY JOB TO EXPLORE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT EVERY FEASIBLE OPTION WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO CONTINUE THAT STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
G YEATMAN: MAY WE KNOW HOW THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING SIR GEOFFREY?
SIR GEOFFREY: WELL IT HAS BEEN AGREED THROUGHOUT THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL BUT YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT THE TALKS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS AS USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE AND THAT IS FOR REAL. THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND OUR OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO CONTINUE THEM ON THAT BASIS. ON THE SEARCH FOR DETAIL WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO REACH A SATISFACTORY NEGOTIATION......
G YEATMAN: HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HONG KONG OPINION?
SIR GEOFFREY: