9
ON
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1986
STEPHEN DAVIES RTHK: IN YOUR STATEMENT TODAY YOU'VE STRESSED Q. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROADER AND DEEPER ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HK SUPPOSE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY THE BASIS OF BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH CHINA OVER THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THAT IS WHAT INFORMS THE RELATIVELY SUPINE ATTITUDE THAT SEEMS TO COME ACROSS WITH WORDS LIKE CONVERGENCE ETC. OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AND THAT IN FACT IS LOSING THE DIPLOMATIC BATTLE, IF YOU LIKE, FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF HK PEOPLE,
MR RENTON : I DO GET VERY BORED WITH THIS CONCEPT OF SUPINE ATTITUDE. THERE IS NO REALITY TO IT. IT'S SUCH AN EASY THING TO SAY, BUT WHO DOES IT HELP WHEN YOU SAY IT? IF ANYONE WISHES TO SEE GHOSTS IN THE SHADOWS, IF YOU WISH TO SIR, IT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE, BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB TO SEE GHOSTS THAT DON'T EXIST. THERE HAS BEEN NO SUPINE ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE BRITISH. THERE HAS BEEN NO SUPINE ATTITUDE IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. AS I SAID EARLIER THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP MEETINGS HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED CONCRETE RESULTS SUCH AS THE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN THE NEW PASSPORT. TO GO AROUND SAYING, OH BUT THE BRITISH ARE ALL SUPINE, I THINK THAT YOU IN DOING THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING AGAINST WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACHIEVE,
THAT IS WHICH IS THIS CONTINUANCE OF PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. MY JOB, THAT IS THE JOB OF MINISTERS IN LONDON, AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
STEPHEN DAVIES: THE THRUST OF THE QUESTION WAS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA.
MR RENTON : I'M COMING ON TO THAT. OF COURSE, OF COURSE. BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THAT BACKGROUND, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU AT ALL ON THESE WORDS SUPINE OR WHATEVER AND I DON'T THINK IT IS HELPFUL TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE TO USE THEM. I MEAN THEY MAY MAKE
NOW, THE TRADE BETWEEN GOOD HEADLINES, BUT THEY'RE NOT FACTS. BRITAIN AND CHINA. OF COURSE, CHINA, WE ALL KNOW, IS IN THE
THE SEVENTH BUSINESS OF A MAJOR CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAMME. FIVE YEAR PLAN IS ABOUT TO BE ANNOUNCED. WE AS A MAJOR EXPORTING NATION HOPE TO WIN SUBSTANTIAL CONTRACTS THERE, LIKE THE GEC WE CONTRACT FOR THE TURBINES IN THE DAYA BAY POWER PROJECT. BELIEVE THAT THESE CONTRACTS WILL BE OF SUBSTANTIAL HELP TO HK, OFTEN BECAUSE OF HK'S OWN INVESTMENT, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN CHINA. WE CAN RIDE IN MANY CASES ON EACH OTHER'S
BUT TO SAY ON FROM THAT THAT WE'RE BACKS. WE SEE THIS HAPPENING. NOT INTERESTED IN TRADE WITH HK IS TO FORGET THAT OUR EXPORTS
HK IS TO HK TODAY ARE NEARLY THREE TIMES OUR EXPORTS TO CHINA. A MAJOR TRADING PARTNER FOR BRITAIN, AND I'VE NO INTENTION THAT WE SHOULD LOSE SIGHT OF THAT FACT.
Q. JANE