TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 122

THINGS WHICH ARE THE FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S PRESENT PROSPERITY, AND AFTER 1997, THE LEAST POSSIBLE CHANGE SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE WAY OF LIFE WHICH THEY KNOW TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR SUCCESS WILL CONTINUE.

Q12. HARVEY STOCKWIN, TIMES OF INDIA

A.

SIR, REGARDING YOUR STATEMENT THAT: +IT IS RIGHT FOR ME TO TELL YOU NOW THAT IT WOULD NOT BE REALISTIC TO THINK OF AN AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES FOR CONTINUED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.+ THE STATEMENT DOES HOT RECORD ON WHAT GROUNDS IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED REALISTIC. WAS IT REALISTIC BECAUSE BRITAIN DID NOT SEEK SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT, OR BECAUSE CHINA REJECTED IT? HOW FAR DID THE BRITISH SIDE PUSH FOR AN ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH CHINA WOULD HAVE HAD SOVEREIGNTY RESTORED, MIXED WITH SOME CONTINUING DEGREE OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION? A SOLUTION WHICH MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FEEL IS THE BEST GUARANTEE OF CONTINUITY OF WHICH

YOU SPEAK.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS CONDUCTING NEGOTIATIONS ON A REALISTIC BASIS WITH THE INTENTION OF SECURING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME ON THE MOST ASSURED BASIS FOR THE FUTURE, IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AND IN DOING THAT, OF COURSE, AT EACH STAGE AND IN EACH WAY, WE PRESS ALL THE POINTS WHICH ARE REGARDED AS IMPORTANT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDEP HOW THE AGREEMENT COMES TOGETHER AS A WHOLE. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER, PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER, AT THE END OF THE NEGOTIATIONS HOW ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS COME TOGETHER, AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN RICHT TO EXPLORE HOW IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ARRIVE AT ARRANGEMENTS THAT WOULD SECURE FOR HONG KONG AFTER 1997 A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY THAT WILL PRESERVE THE WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG, TOGETHER WITH THE ESSENTIALS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TO EXPLORE ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH

THAT IS BEST LIKELY TO DE ASSURED AND IT IS IN THAT CONTEXT WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION TO WHICH YOU PEFER.

Q13. MICHAEL EVANS, DAILY EXPRESS

TWO YEARS AGO THE PRIME MINISTER, IN PEKING, SEEMED UNWILLING TO TOTALLY RELINQUISH ALL BRITISH RIGHT TO SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG. ARE YOU NOW TODAY SAYING THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DOES JUST THAT?

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JA. AT