CONFIDENTIAL
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AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE:
THE PURPOSE OF
BUT GIVEN OUR
11. OF COURSE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US.
THE TALKS IS TO TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE DIFFERENCES.
COMMON OBJECTIVE I BELIEVE THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE
WORKED OUT. WE BOTH HAVE A CLEAR INTEREST IN A PROSPEROUS AND
STABLE FUTURE FOR THE TERRITORY.
FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE:
12. THAT IS A VERY PESSIMISTIC VIEW. THE CHINESE LEADER AND THE
PRIME MINISTER AGREED ON A COMMON AIM TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY
AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND THE AIM OF THE TALKS IS TO BUILD
ON THIS. WE MEAN TO ACHIEVE AN AGREEMENT. OUR CURRENT GOOD
RELATIONS WITH CHINA WILL HELP US TO DO SO.
UK POSITION ON SOVEREIGNTY AND THE TREATIES:
13.
OUR POSITION HAS BEEN CLEARLY STATED. WE ARE NOW LOOKING TO
THE FUTURE. THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTION IS BY
FRIENDLY DISCUSSION AND AGREEMENT. I WOULD NOT RULE OUT ANY
SOLUTION THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO
HMG.
CHINA'S SAR PLAN?:
14.
WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE MAIN LINES OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S THINKING. IN OUR TALKS IN PEKING BOTH SIDES HAVE
OUTLINED THEIR POSITIONS. THERE IS MUCH EXPLORATION STILL TO BE
DONE. THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE. THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE WELL ABLE TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT
FUTURE ARRANGEMENT WOULD OR WOULD NOT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE. I HOPE
THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS.
1997 DEADLINE SET BY CHINESE:
15. OF COURSE 1997 IS A KEY DATE BECAUSE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES
LEASE. THAT IS PRECISELY WHY WE AND THE CHINESE ARE HOLDING
TALKS. BUT THE OUTCOME MUST NOT BE PREJUDGED.
WHAT IS HMG'S AIM AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE?:
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