TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 127

Q23. NIGEL HAWKS, OBSERVER

A.

SIR GEOFFREY, IN YOUR STATEMENT YOU SEEMED TO BE SUGGESTING THAT UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY, HONG KONG WILL ENJOY GREATER AUTONOMY, MORE DEMOCRACY, MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS OWN FUTURE, THAN IT HAS DONE FOR 100 YEARS UNDER BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. IS THIS A REALISTIC POSITION, AND WHY SHOULD THE CHINESE

ACCEPT IT?

I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, ALL THOSE CONSIDERING THIS MATTER, IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH HONG KONG AT PRESENT DOES ENJOY A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY IN THE MANAGEMENT AND CONDUCT OF ITS OWN AFFAIRS. IT IS A VERY CRUCIAL COMPONENT FOR IN THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS NOT MANAGING HONG KONG, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOVERNING HONG KONG, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS NOT INTERFERING IN HONG KONG. ALL THE MATTERS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INCLUDING THE MANAGEMENT OF HONG KONG CURRENCY AND ECONOMY ARE GOVERNED BY DECISIONS TAKEN WITHIN HONG KONG ITSELF. AND IF THERE IS THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER ADVANCES TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT NOW, THAT IS A PROSPECT WHICH BECOMES INCREASINGLY LIKELY AND DESIRABLE IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE SAID IN MY STATEMENT, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO AN INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE FRAMEWORK OF

GOVERNMENT.

:

G24. ROSALIND MAK, SING TAC EVENING POST

A.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATION?

I THINK THAT WOULD BE RATHER A CROWDED NEGOTIATION. THE NEGOTIATION DOES HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, AND I AM VERY DEEPLY - CONSCIOUS OF THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF MY RESPONSIBILITY

IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THE WAY IN WHICH THE PEOPLE

OF HONG KONG CAN PARTICIPATE IS BY EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS. I HAVE NOT FOUND THEM UNWILLING TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS, I HAVE MET VERY MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM DIRECTLY, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS, THROUGH EXCO, THROUGH LEGCO, THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE REGIONAL COUNCILS, THEY CAN EXPRESS THEM THROUGH BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. I AM VERY ANXIOUS THAT THIS

PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, WHEREBY I KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT, SHOULD CONTINUE AND OF COURSE WHEN WE COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGREEMENT, IF WE DO, THEN THERE WILL BE PUBLICATION OF THAT, AND THEY WILL

HAVE A FRESH OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING THEIR VIEWS KNOWN.

- 11

1025.