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442
IMMEDIATE
TELNO 356
SECRET.
FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
11 APRIL 1968 (FED)
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 356 OF 11 APRIL REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG,
M.I.P.T. : SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE NOTED WITH INTEREST THE STATEMENT WHICH VICE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LO KUEI-PO MADE ON 8 MARCH AND HAVE INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING REPLY:
AS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY MADE CLEAR, THEY ATTACH MUCH IMPORTANCE TO BRINGING ABOUT AN EARLY IMPROVEMENT IN SINO- BRITISH RELATIONS, AND RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG IN THIS CONTEXT. IT IS THEIR DESIRE IN PARTICULAR THAT CHINA AND HONG KONG SHOULD IN FUTURE ENJOY THE ESPECIALLY CLOSE CONNEXIONS AND ECONOMIC TIES THAT HAVE EXISTED IN THE PAST TO THEIR MUTUAL BENEFIT.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SPECIAL POSITION OF CHINA WITH RELATION TO HONG KONG, SUBJECT TO THEIR OVERRIDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION, ORDER, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TERRITORY, THEY HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ABOUT HONG KONG, A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG IS IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED: AND ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY DEPEND ON THE MAINTENANCE OF AN ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL SOCIETY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE MORE RECENT VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON HONG KONG, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WISH TO MAKE THEIR POLICIES COMPLETELY CLEAR. IT HAS BEEN THE CONSISTENT POLICY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT ALL SECTIONS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY ENJOY THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WORK FREELY WITHIN THE NORMAL FRAMEWORK OF LAW AND ORDER. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DO NOT FAVOUR, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST, OR PERSECUTE ANY SECTION OF HONG KONG SOCIETY, AND THEY RECOGNISE THE RIGHT OF ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WITHIN THE LAW. THIS INCLUDES THE PERSONAL RIGHT TO STUDY THE WORKS OF CHAIRMAN MAO TSE-TUNG AND THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES
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