TNAG-1304-FCO40-1660-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 49

(1)

HEANWHILE I WANT TO STRESS:

#

FIRST, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE TO DE RESOLVED, THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ON COURSE:

(11) SECONDLY, IT IS COMMON GROUND TO BOTH CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 RESTS WITH BRITAIN.

WE SHALL FULFIL THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

C

(111) THIRDLY, OUR OBJECTIVE REMAINS UNCHANGED A BINDING AND DETAILED AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL PRESERVE A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTINUITY AND AUTONOMY IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.

THE FACT THAT THIS IS MY SECOND VISIT IN THREE MONTHS ILLUSTRATES HOW IMPORTANT THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND MYSELF. THEY ARE IN FACT ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. WE ARE DOING OUR UTMOST TO BRING THE NEGOTIATIONS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION

BY WHICH I MEAN ONE WHICH BEST SERVES

THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

ENDS.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL

2

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.