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ANNEX B
EXTRACT OF TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND DENG XIAOPING, 29 MARCH 1979
He
'Deng Xiaoping said that relations between Guangdong and Hong Kong were good, although some questions were difficult to solve. understood that the people of Hong Kong were concerned about the
China had a consistent policy: future status of Hong Kong.
sovereignty over Hong Kong belonged to China.
Any
But Hong Kong had
her own special status. People were concerned about the way out
This was still 18 years away. for the New Territories in 1997. This was not a long time. There might be specific discussions by that time taking account of the circumstances of the day. solution of the status (of the New Territories) would have as its
But it could be prerequisite that Hong Kong was part of China. 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. .... Reverting to the New Territories Lease, he sai that he formally requested the Governor to ask investors to put their hearts at ease. It was China's long-term policy to regard Hong Kong as a special case, no matter what political solution was reached by 1997. The Governor said that the problem could not be
What he had in mind was replacing overcome by generalised assurances,
the leases valid to 1997 with leases valid as long as Britain
administered the New Territories.
This would get rid of the date.
Deng Xiaoping commented that it would be best to avoid wording which
It would be better to mentioned continuing British administration.
/say
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