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Have you accepted Chinese sovereignty? Have you not
implicitly accepted that the nineteenth century treaties
2.
are invalid?
A.
This is
There are obviously gaps between the two sides.
why we are going to have talks. Any solution must be in
the interests of all the parties concerned. But our common
interest in the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is much
stronger than the points which divide us. Neither of us can
ignore the facts of history: but we can and will work
together to find a mutually satisfactory solution to this
problem.
Q.
Would Britain defend Hong Kong against a Chinese attack,
as she did over the Falklands?
A.
What makes this question, happily, quite different from
that of the Falklands, is that we are working in cooperation
with China, not in confrontation with her.
Q.
But surely, the fact that you are negotiating with China,
which claims the whole of Hong Kong, means that you have accepted
their right to dictate how the place is run. Will the British
authority to administer Hong Kong not be seriously weakened?
A. Of course we accept that Hong Kong is geographically part
of China. Cooperation is essential and has developed enormously
over the past few years. But we have abdicated none of our
powers. HMG through the Governor remain fully responsible
and retain all their authority. I am sure that China under-
stands and indeed welcomes that.
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Q. Who will
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