TNAG-1238-FCO40-1551-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 61

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of Britain's position. She was sharply criticized by a Chinese statement

of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department spokesman who said that

Peking's "consistent position" is that "China is not bound by the unequal

treaties and that the whole Hong Kong area will be recovered when conditions

are ripe."

Although secret talks between Britain and China have begun, British

officials have been reluctant to discuss the matter of Hong Kong's future

status in anything but the most general terms. For their part, PRC leaders

from time to time have commented to Hong Kong visitors on China's concern

for the future prosperity and stability of the territory, while underlining

China's determination to reassert sovereignty.

A detailed description of PRC intentions was given by National People's

Congress Vice Chairman Liao Chengzhi, who was China's leading expert on

Hong Kong matters, in remarks to a visiting Hong Kong industrialist that

were reported by the Hong Kong press in late November, 1982. Liao said

that China is determined to regain sovereignty over Hong Kong by 1997 at

the latest.' He clarified that Beijing does not want Britain to remain as

the administering agent of Hong Kong, but would rather the Hong Kong Govern-

ment be run by the "people" of Hong Kong. He added that the PRC will not

appoint any officer of the Hong Kong government. Hong Kong's official status

would be as a special autonomous administrative zone, which has been legally

established in article 31 of the recent PRC constitution. Beijing says

will use the same legal device when Taiwan is reunified with the mainland.

Liao also gave other details in China's position, which he indicated

would be completely worked out once Beijing finishes drafting plans for

Hong Kong's future "in around a year." He said:

it