TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 48

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Although what Sir Geoffrey said had been mentioned by Peking before, the fact that

is time it had come from Sir Geoffrey indicated his agreement, thus forming the major part of an agreement, Sir Geoffrey's disclosure of the progress of the diplomatic talks was undoubtedly a plece of good news, and would definitely benefit Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.

The writer hoped that both sides would keep up their efforts and would reach a final agreement in September, as speculated.

Chine arrived at the policy of "recovering sovereignty, Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong, preserving the present system, and maintaining prosperity" after considering the opinions of Hong Kong people, indicating the direct and close communication between China's central policy and Hong Kong's public opinion. The good Sino-British relations, the communication of Hong Kong's public opinion and the drafting of basic laws indicated that Hong Kong had bright prospects

The New Evening Post quoted Ji Pengfei's comment that the drafting of basic laws for Hong Kong could start only after China and Britain had reached an agreement The basic laws were to be effective after 1997 and thus there was plenty of time. It seemed that many of the questions that were to be determined by the basic laws need not be, and should not be, put down in detail in a diplomatic agreement.

In a similar vein, a Tin Tin Daily News columnist said Hong Kong's administration after 1997 was China's internal affair. The details would be spelt out in the basic laws, which would be passed after being fully discussed by the people of Hong Kong. The columnist believed that it was not possible to include the details in a diplomatic agreement.

The Wen Wel Po and the New Evening Post editorials referred to a comment by Jl Pengfel (made to groups of academic and broadcast representatives two days ago) that the conclusion of an agreement before September was possible.

Wen Wel said Britain's cooperative attitude was one of the factors leading to the progress achieved in the diplomatic talks. But what was more Important was China's basic policy on Hong Kong - a policy that fully took into account Britain's interests in Hong Kong, the wishes of Hong Kong people and one that various parties found understandable and acceptable. China besed its policy on the fact that Hong Kong's position as an international commercial and financial centre could only be maintained and developed under a capitalist system and that the preservation of Hong Kong's international financial position was beneficial to China's four modernisation programmes.