XN000022-1994-10-27 — Page 10

+

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1994

QUESTION: DO YOU THINK IT IS NOT QUITE POSSIBLE FOR THE JLG TO FINISH SO MANY OUTSTANDING TASKS BEFORE 1997?

FOREIGN SECRETARY: I THINK THE MORE IT ACHIEVES THE BETTER FOR HONG KONG. OBVIOUSLY IT CANNOT ACHIEVE MORE THAN IT DOES ACHIEVE, BUT THE MORE IT ACHIEVES THE BETTER FOR HONG KONG, THE BETTER FOR HONG KONO AFTER 1 JULY 1997. THAT IS WHY IT IS A COMMON INTEREST OF BRITAIN AND HONG KONG AND CHINA THAT THE JLG SHOULD GET ON WITH IT.

QUESTION:

TASK WILL BE UNFINISHED BY 1997?

FOREIGN SECRETARY: WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THE. MORE IT DOES MANAGE THE BETTER FOR HONG KONG. THE CHINESE ARE NOW PUTTING THEIR OWN ITEMS ON THE JLG AGENDA, IT IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF THE BRITISH SIDE SAYING WE HAVE GOT TO DO X AND Y. NOW THE CHINESE ARE SAYING WE ALSO NEED TO DISCUSS A AND B, AND THAT IS VERY REASONABLE, AND WE ARE DISCUSSING ITEMS WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE SUGGESTED, THAT IS WHAT THE JLG IS FOR.

QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THERE ARE CONCRETE SIGNS THAT THE PRESENT RATHER ILL-TEMPERED PERIOD WE ARE LIVNIG IN IS GOING TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR SAY?

FOREIGN SECRETARY: THERE ARE CONTINUING DISAGREEMENTS BUT THERE ARE CONTINUING POINTS ON WHICH WE CAN REACH AGREEMENT, AND THERE IS A COMMON INTEREST THAT WE DO. I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE FACTS.

QUESTION: YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT TURNING A CORNER WHERE THE AIRPORT IS CONCERNED, DO YOU THINK THAT WHEN THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED IT WILL LEAD TO A DOMINO EFFECT ON OTHER DEALS ON BOTH SIDES OR DO YOU THINK IT

IS ONE ON ITS OWN?

GOVERNOR: OBVIOUSLY ALL OF US HOPE THAT AN AGREEMENT OVER THE AIRPORT WILL BE MATCHED BY AGREEMENTS ELSEWHERE ON OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS. ALL OF US HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT TAKE QUITE SO LONG TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THOSE OTHER MATTERS, AS IT HAS OVER THE AIRPORT. BUT WE DID SEE THIS SUMMER THE END OF 7 YEARS OF NEGOTIATION ON THE FUTURE OF DEFENCE LANDS. I HOPE THAT WE WILL SOON BE ABLE TO SEE THE END OF DISCUSSIONS ON THE FINANCE OF THE AIRPORT. IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE GONE ON BUILDING THE AIRPORT DESPITE THE LACK OF AN OVERALL FINANCING AGREEMENT. AND ON THE BACK OF THOSE AGREEMENTS I HOPE WE CAN AGREE ON MUCH MORE, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO DO SO. IF WE DO NOT MANAGE TO GET AS MUCH WORK DONE THROUGH THE JLG AS EVERYONE WANTS IT WILL BE THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OFF TO SUCH A FLYING START AS WE WOULD LIKE AND I AM SURE ITS MEMBERS WOULD LIKE.

QUESTION: WOULD YOU SAY THAT RELATIONS ARE BACK ON AN EVEN KEEL WITH BEIJING?

GOVERNOR: I WOULD SAY THAT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AND ACHIEVE PROGRESS RATHER THAN BRAG ABOUT IT AND 1 WANT TO PUT OUR ENERGIES INTO RIAL SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE KATHER THAN RHETORICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

/FOREIGN SECRETARY:

---

Page 10Page 11