TNAG-1152-FCO40-1432-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-Commonwealth-1982 — Page 73

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Peking

Hong Kong

12.

The Views of and Consultation with the people of Hong Kong

'We have got a lot of consultation to do with them [the people of Hong Kong] too. It is their future we are deciding'.

'In Hong Kong, my purpose is...to pay particular attention to the views of the people who live here'.

'While I am here [in Hong Kong] I am seeing a far wider group of people and trying to understand as far as I can the wishes and views of the people of Hong Kong'.

'Obviously the views of the people in Hong Kong have to be known to those who negotiate and we have in fact to keep in touch with them all the time'.

'I try to be very much aware [of the desire of the Hong Kong people concerning the future of Hong Kong]...The Governor keeps me informed. So do many people from Hong Kong and I make a point of seeing them...I have read all the polls that were taken. They were extremely interesting and I believe showed the views of the people of Hong Kong..

[Asked about the possibility of vote or referendum in Hong Kong]:

'All of these things I think again we will have to discuss in talks, but there are many many ways in which people's views can be expressed and they do have elected councils through which they can be expressed and of course they can to the Executive and Legislative Councils'.

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'We are obviously considering with the Governor and other groups how to take those views [of the people of Hong Kong] into account. There is an Executive Council and a Legislative Council, there are many other groups in Hong Kong It is absolutely vital to consult and to involve the people of Hong Kong the whole time. We haven't yet come to a conclusion on how to do it'.

'We have not formulated a precise method yet but we are very much aware of the need to keep in close consultation with very many groups in Hong Kong and generally with all the people'.

'The Governor will make arrangements to keep in touch with the views of the people in Hong Kong. It's absolutely vital. It's their future we're talking about and, of course, we have to consult and involve them, but really on a continuing basis.'