TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 71

ERS 1200

SECRET

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 12111OZ MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 664 OF 12 MARCH

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TOP

COPY

HKK0401

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

13 MAR 1984

REGISTRY

180

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGCO DEBATE

и

0810/3

FOLLOWING IS LATEST DRAFT OF CHIEF SECRETARY'S SPEECH:

T SIP,

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 RESPONS-

IBILITY WHICH THEY HAVE SHOWN IN APPROACHING A QUESTION WHICH

AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF THIS TERRITORY AND OF ITS PEOPLE

AND IS OF VITAL CONCERN TO US ALL.

2. AS MR ROGER LOBO SAID, IT IS NOW 15 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 PROSPERITY 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 THEY ARE BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY

INFORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. THEY ARE KNOW 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. 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 MEMBERS SHOULD WISH TO RAISE THIS ISSUE OF THE FUTURE IN THE

TERMS OF THE MOTION WHICH IS NOW BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.

3. THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION, IN THE PRESS AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT

THIS MOTION. AS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT, IT IS A

PROCEDURAL MOTION, PROPERLY CONSTITUTED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE

STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IT DOES NOT

1

SEEK TO BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS BY SEEKING DETAILED

INFORMATION NOW ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS. NOR DOES IT SEEK TO LAY DOWN

IN ADVANCE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE. WHAT

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE SEEKING 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.

SECRET

14.

See

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