XN000022-1984-04-20 — Page 14

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1984

024. ROSAL IND MAK, SING TAO EVENING POST

A.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATION?

I THINK THAT WOULD BE RATHER A CROWDED NEGOTIATION. THE NEGOTIATION DOES HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, AND I AM VERY DEEPLY CONSCIOUS OF THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF MY RESPONSIBILITY IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THE WAY IN WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN PARTICIPATE IS BY EXPRESSING THE IR VIEWS. I HAVE NOT FOUND THEM UNWILLING TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS, I HAVE MET VERY MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM DIRECTLY, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS, THROUGH EXCO, THROUGH LEGCO, THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE REGIONAL COUNCILS, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM THROUGH BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. I AM VERY ANXIOUS THAT THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, WHEREBY I KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT, SHOULD CONTINUE AND OF COURSE WHEN WE COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGREEMENT, IF WE DO, THEN THERE WILL BE PUBLICATION OF THAT, AND THEY WILL HAVE A FRESH OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING THEIR VIEWS KNOWN.

025. KEVIN TOOL IS, IRISH NEWS

A.

HOW MUCH CONTROL WILL CHINA HAVE OF HONG KONG'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN THE FUTURE, HOW WILL IT AFFECT HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER COUNTRIES?

WELL, THE TWO PARTS IN YOUR QUESTION ARE OF COURSE, DISTINCT AND IMPORTANTLY DISTINCT, BECAUSE PLAINLY, THE SOVEREIGN COUNTRY DOES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOREIGN AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS IN THE BROADEST SENSE. ONE OF THE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY THAT WE ARE SEEKING, IS AUTONOMY IN RELATION TO THE MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, SUCH AS THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORGANISATIONS, LIKE GATT, LIKE THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND SO ON, AND MANAGEMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT, CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY CONTINUING TO CIRCULATE FREELY THE HONG KONG DOLLAR.

026. STEVEN JESSEL, BBC

A.

IN ASSESSING THE OPINION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, WOULD YOU EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF A REFERENDUM?

WE HAVE NOT COME TO A CONCLUSION ABOUT THE BEST OF SEVERAL ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF ASSESSING THE OPINION OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND IT MUST BE STATED THERE ARE SOME VERY REAL DRAWBACKS TO THE IDEA OF A REFERENDUM.

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