TNAG-1258-FCO40-1591-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 141

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TAINTED' TERMS WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM LEGISLATION.

7. THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE CHINESE STILL SEE THE ROAD TO

FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE TALKS IN TERMS OF AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLES

RATHER THAN SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF DETAILS AND PRACTICALITIES.

WE STRESSED THE NEED TO TACKLE DETAILS IF:

(A) CONFIDENCE AND CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG WERE TO BE SUSTAINED

IN THE LONG TERM:

(B) WE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY PARLIAMENT, WERE TO FORM A CONSIDERED

VIEW OF THE OVERALL PACKAGE OF CHINESE PROPOSALS:

(C) BOTH SIDES WERE TO REACH ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG WHICH

WOULD FULFILL THE AGREED COMMON AIM OF THE TALKS.

8.

ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE SHOWED LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF OUR

ARGUMENTS, WE MANAGED TO PUT OVER A FAIR AMOUNT OF DETAILED

MATERIAL AND TO PRESS THE CASE FOR PRAGMATIC CONSIDERATION OF

SPECIFIC AREAS OF ADMINISTRATION. WE MADE A MAJOR EFFORT TO

DISPEL THE EVIDENT CHINESE DOUBTS ABOUT OUR MOTIVES. WE

REITERATED THAT WE ARE SINCERELY PREPARED TO EXAMINE WHETHER

ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY COULD

BE BUILT ON THE CHINESE PLAN FOR HONG KONG. OUR PROPOSAL TO

PROCEED ON THIS BASIS INVOLVED NO (NO) ASPIRATIONS TO SEEK

CO-ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

EID/HKD

ED/FED

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD(MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/AR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

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SECRET

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

NEWS DEPT

MR. BURROWS

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN .....--

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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