TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1989
HONG
(B)
(C)
(D)
3
TO MAINTAIN THE OMELCO OFFICE RECENTLY SET UP IN LONDON AS A CONTACT POINT BETWEEN OMELCO AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS;
то WORK OUT A PROGRAMME FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND BRITISH LEADING WRITERS TO VISIT HONG KONG SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION HERE IN HONG KONG; AND
TO SHARE OUR OWN EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE LONDON TRIP WITH LOCAL GROUPS INTERESTED IN THE RIGHT OF ABODE ISSUE; IN THIS REGARD THE OMELCO SPECIAL WORKING GROUT ON NATIONALITY WILL START MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET THESE GROUPS.
'WE RECOGNISE THAT WE MUST TRY OUR BEST TO HELP AND RESOLVE KONG'S CURRENT CONFIDENCE CRISIS. IT IS NOT AN EASY MATTER. ALSO, THE RESTORATION OF RIGHT OF ABODE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHIN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THIS WILL NOT DETER US FROM CONTINUING TO PRESS HONG KONG'S CASE. TO GIVE UP NOW WILL DO GREAT INJUSTICE TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR.
"THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ASSURED US THAT A STATEMENT WOULD BE THE RELEASED REASONABLY SOON IN RELATION TO THE RIGHT OF ABODE ISSUE. FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE MATTER WOULD BE MADE. SO FAR THIS HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING. WE SHALL ASK, THROUGH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, WHEN HMG WILL MAKE SUCH AN
ANNOUNCEMENT.
ON
"APART FROM THE RIGHT OF ABODE ISSUE, WE WILL DEFINITELY PRESS WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF THE WORK THAT THE TWO SENIOR MEMBERS HAVE OUTLINED EARLIER AND WHICH ARE AS IMPORTANT. THIS ENTAILS DISCUSSION ON THE BUILDING UP OF SAFEGUARDS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN HONG KONG'S FOUNDATION AS OUR HOME. THEY INCLUDE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BASIC LAW WHICH TRULY ENSHRINES THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT OF
THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, DISCUSSION OF THE PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION BEFORE 1997, AND THE BEST WAYS TO SECURE THE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. THESE WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED AT THE COMING OMELCO MEETING THIS FRIDAY, JULY 21. WE ARE SURE THAT THEY, ALTOGETHER, WILL COMBINE TO HELP HONG KONG BECOME A SAFER SECURE PLACE FOR US ALL."
AND MORE
/4