XN000022-1984-04-20 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984

Q19. C.B. LAU, RADIO HONG KONG

A.

SIR, WILL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG WAIT UNTIL A FINAL AGREEMENT BEFORE WE CAN KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS, IS TO CONSULT AS FULLY AS WE CAN CONSISTENT WITH CONFIDENTIALITY SURROUNDING THE NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES. I AM QUITE CERTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. IT IS MY EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATING PROCESS HAS TO BE CONDUCTED

IN CONFIDENCE, BUT ALONGSIDE THAT, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO CONSULT, IN THE WAY THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED. THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY IS A FURTHER STEP IN THAT PROCESS IN WHICH I HAVE TOLD QUITE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT ABOUT WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PERFORM IN THIS FASHION. OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS THEN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED. IT WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO CONSIDER, FOR PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER, FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO CONSIDER. AS I SAID, TIME WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THAT CONSIDERATION, FOR PARLIAMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

020. BETTY LIU - TVB

A.

AND

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AGREEMENT IS REACHED AND ONE SIDE DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES.

THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT COULD BE ASKED ABOUT EVERY AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO HAVE PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE - NAMELY IT IS A FORMULATION AND EMBODIMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES THAT HAVE GOT GOOD BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES EACH OF WHICH WILL HAVE AN INTEREST IN UPHOLDING ITS OWN SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT; INTEREST ARISING FROM WHAT IT ACTUALLY WANTS TO SECURE, ARISING FROM ITS CONCERN FOR ITS OWN REPUTATION BEFORE THE WORLD, AND INTERNATIONAL OPINION. THOSE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ASSURANCE THAT INTERNATIONALLY BINDING AGREEMENTS IS THE RIGHT WAY OF CONCLUDING THIS MATTER.

021, BETTY LIU, TVB

IF ONE SIDE FAILS TO KEEP ITS PROMISES, OR TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANOTHER SIDE TO TAKE ACTION?

/A.

IN ANY