TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 121

A.

WHAT WE MEGOTIATE DURING THE COMING MONTHS, WHAT

WE HAVE NEGOTIATED IN THE MONTHS PASSED, IS ABOUT

THE POINTS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE

ARRANGEMENTS OF WHICH I SPOKE, WHICH NEEDS TO BE SPELT OUT IN THE AGREEMENT, OF WHICH I SPOKE. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO SECURE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS, ENTERED INTO AS AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT THAT IS INTENDED TO BE BINDING. THAT IS THE BEST ASSURANCE OF THE CONTINUITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE

MATTERS WE ARE DISCUSSING AND SEEKING TO AGREE.

Q10. JAMES STERNGOLD, AP DOW-JONES

A.

IN THE FORM OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH YOU HAVE DESCRIBED HERE, WHICH WOULD BE AN AUTONOMOUSLY ADMINISTEPED HONG KONG, UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, CAN YOU YOU FORESEE - MY QUESTION REFERS TO THE MAINTENANCE

OF EXISTING LINKS INTERNATIONALLY WITH HONG KONG -

DO YOU THINK THAT INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WOULD

RECOGNISE A SOMEWHAT AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG, INDEPENDENT OF CHINA, IN TERMS OF MONETARY FACTORS, SUCH AS TEXTILE QUOTAS AND THAT SORT OF THING?

THAT IS ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT FEATURES THAT WE

DO NEED TO ACHIEVE. I BELIEVE THAT UNDER THE

ARRANGEMENTS WE HAVE IN MIND IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, AND CERTAINLY DESIRABLE, TO SECURE AGREEMENT ON THE

CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION

IN THE WIDE NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN

WHICH IT ALREADY PLAYS A PART, AND ITS MEMBERSHIP OF

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS OF THE KIND YOU HAVE IN

MIND IS IMPORTANT IN THE SAME CONTEXT TO ENSURE THAT

THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE FREELY

AND AS AN INDEPENDENT CONVERTIBLE CURRENCY. I BELIEVE

THAT ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE PART OF THE ESSENTIAL

ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG WOULD BE ACHIEVABLE

IN THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE IN MIND.

Q11. REPORTER, NEW EVENING POST

A.

WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL

DO IN THE 13 YEARS BEFORE 1997 TO MAINTAIN THE

PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG?

IN THE 13 YEARS UP TO 1997, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE

THE INTENTION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IN

EXACTLY THE PRESENT WAY. WE ARE CONCERNED, AS I AM

SURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED, TO

MAINTAIN CONTINUING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY ON

EXACTLY THE PRESENT LINES. WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE

IS A CHANCE IN 1997 WITH THE LEAST POSSIBLE DISTURBANCE.

FROM NOW ON UP TO 1997, THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL THOSE

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