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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1989
FRIENDS OF CHINA IN THIS HOUSE AND AROUND THE WORLD MUST SHARE
SANE THE HOPE THAT
AND BALANCED GOVERNMENT WILL
AND BE SWIFTLY SECURELY RESTORED IN PEKING. IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER, THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF CONTINUING NORMAL BUSINESS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
HER MAJESTY'S
FOLLOWING ACTION:
ALL SCHEDULED
GOVERNMENT HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED ON THE
MINISTERIAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. THE VISIT OF THE CHINESE .MINISTER OF JUSTICE, WHO WAS DUE TO ARRIVE HERE TOMORROW, HAS BEEN CANCELLED. MY RT HON FRIEND, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND
FOOD, HAS ALSO CANCELLED HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA;
THE PROPOSED VISIT OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES TO CHINA IN NOVEMBER CLEARLY CANNOT TAKE PLACE SO LONG AS THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATROCITIES OVER THE PAST WEEKEND REMAIN IN CONTROL OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT;
ALL HIGH-LEVEL MILITARY CONTACTS WITH CHINA HAVE BEEN
SUSPENDED;
ALL ARMS SALES TO CHINA HAVE BEEN BANNED.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT ARE EXAMINING HOW WE CAN RESPOND TO ANY REQUESTS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS.
THE WHOLE HOUSE WILL SHARE THE GOVERNMENT'S SPECIAL CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN PEKING. THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTAND THE GRAVE CONCERN FELT BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE ALL BEEN DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE STRENGTH AND RESTRAINT OF THEIR RESPONSE TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE UNIQUE CONTEXT OF THE GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF THE TERRITORY, AND BY THE TALENT AND ENTERPRISE OF ITS PEOPLE.
ALL THAT UNDERLINES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG MUST DEPEND UPON A SUCCESSFUL AND SECURE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF CHINA. THAT OBJECTIVE IS ENSHRINED IN THE COMMITMENTS MADE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THOSE COMMITMENTS WERE REAFFIRMED BY THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES WHEN HE CALLED ON ME YESTERDAY, BUT IT IS SELF-EVIDENT THAT IF WE ARE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMITMENT OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THERE MUST BE A STABLE AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IN PEKING.
THE BRITISH
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