TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 35

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GR 1200

RESTRICTED

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HICKOFEN OP COPY

DESKBY 14093OZ

.CEIVED

FM HONG KONG 140905Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 196 OF 14 MARCH

INDEX

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO

GISTRY

حملة

I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DEBATE WITH CLOSE ATTENTION AND VERY GREAT

INTEREST. I WISH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN

FOR THE DEEP SERIOUSNESS AND GREAT SENSE OF DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY WHICH THE HAVE SHOWN IN APPROACHING AN ISSUE WHICH AFFECTS

THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND OF ITS PEOPLE AND IS OF VITAL

CONCERN TO US ALL.

AS MR LOBO SAID, IT IS NOW 18 MONTHS SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS THATCHER, VISITED CHINA AND A COMMUNIQUE WAS ISSUED WHICH

STATED THAT THE LEADERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES AGREED TO ENTER INTO TALKS

THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, FOLLOWING HER VISIT, WITH THE COMMON

AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPREITY OF HONG KONG. IT IS

EIGHT MONTHS SINCE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TALKS BEGAN. THERE HAVE

BEEN NINE ROUNDS OF TALKS IN THE SECOND PHASE. THE TENTH ROUND

WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF THIS WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY REVEALED THAT THE TALKS ARE PROCEEDING STEADILY AND MAKING PROGRESS AND THAT THEY ARE BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY INFORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE COVERING DETAILED GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS THE EXPRESSED INTENTION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE THEIR POLICIES AND GUIDELINES IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. INEVITABLY, ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE

CREATED IN HONG KONG AN AIR OF EXPECTATION AND GIVEN RISE TO A

CALL FOR MORE TO BE MADE KNOWN OF WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE.

AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, IT IS ENTIRELY NATURAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE

THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD WISH TO

RAIS THIS ISSUE OF THE FUTURE IN THE TERMS OF THE MOTION WHICH IS

NOW BEFORE US.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE PRESS AND WLSEWHERE ABOUT THIS MOTION. AS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT, IT IS PROCEDURAL MOTION, PROPERLY CONSTITUTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDING ORDERS OF THIS COUNCIL. IT DOES NOT SEEK TO BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS BY SEEKING DETAILED INFORMATION NOW

BOUT THEIR CONTENT AND PROGRESS. NOT DOES IT SEEK TO LAY DOWN IN ADVANCE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE. WHAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE SEEKING, THROUGH THIS MOTION, IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED BETWEEN THE

BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.

I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY THERE SHOULD BE ANY QUARREL WITH THAT PROPOSITION. IT IS FULLY ACCEPTED THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE TALKS

RESTRICTED

/ IN PEKING

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