TNAG-0849-FCO40-1059-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 164

Agreed face versini,

زوار

RECORD OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HE THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND HE VICE-PREMIER DENG XIAOPING AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE AT 1000 HOURS ON 29 MARCH 1979

HE Sir Murray MacLehose-

HM Ambassador

Sir Y K Kan

Dr D C Wilson

Mr T JB George

HE Mr Deng Xiaoping

HE Mr Liao Chengzhi, Deputy

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC

HE Mr Li Qiang, Minister of

Foreign Trade

HE Mr Song Zhiguang, Assistant

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Cui Mingtang, Western

European Dept, MFA

He

After initial courtesies, Deng Xiaoping said that the Governor had had talks with Li Qiang and would be speaking to Liao Chengzhi and Huang Hua, and could take up specific questions with them. said that relations between Guangdong and Hong Kong were good, although some questions were difficult to solve. He understood that the people of Hong Kong were concerned about the future status of Hong Kong. China had a consistent policy: sovereignty over Hong Kong belonged to China. But Hong Kong had her own special - status. People were concerned about the way out for the New

Territories in 1997. This was still 18 years away. This was not a long time. There might be specific discussions by that time taking account of the circumstances of the day. Any solution of the status (of the New Territories) would have as its prerequisite that Hong Kong was part of China. But it could be said with certainty that, when the two sides discussed the question, China would respect the special status of Hong Kong. People were concerned about investment. The Chinese Government gave a clear assurance that, when there was a political solution, it would never affect investments.

2.

Turning to Macao, Deng said that China had not taken over Kacao and had not even raised the issue with the Portuguese. The UK would be aware also of China's policy towards Taiwan. The Chinese Government had often said that the return of Taiwan would involve respecting the special status of Taiwan. There would be no change in the social system, nor would living standards be affected.

/Taiwan