TNAG-1308-FCO40-1665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 98

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a Crtools

FM HONG KONG 0809052 MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 625 OF 8 MARCH

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGCO DEBATE

ANUSSY NI BARBOU

HKK040/1

1. FOLLOWING IS FIRST DRAFT FOR CHIEF SECRETARY'S SPEECH:-

1. I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DEBATE WITH CLOSE ATTENTION AND VERY

GREAT INTEREST. I WISH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE HON 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. IT IS NOW 18 MONTHS SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED CHINA

AND AGREED WITH CHINESE LEADERS TO ENTER TALKS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC

CHANNELS 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 THOSE

SECOND PHASE TALKS AND THE TENTH WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY AND

SATURDAY OF THIS WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY REVEALED THAT THESE

TALKS ARE PROCEEDING STEADILY AND MAKING PROGRESS. 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. IT IS NOT FOR ME

TO PREDUCT WHEN A SOLUTION WILL BE ACHIEVED. BUT THESE STATEMENTS

HAVE CREATED IN HONG KONG AN AIR OF EXPECTATION AND GIVEN ARISE 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 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. SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN AS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS

HAVE POINTED OUT SQUARE BRACKETS END IT IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION.

IT DOES NOT 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. THE MOTION CERTAINLY DOES NOT CLAIM FOR THIS COUNCIL

ANY POWER OF VETO OVER EVENTUAL AGREEMENT: I BELIEVE THAT ALL

MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS IN PEKING ARE

A MATTER FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED. WHAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS

ARE SEEKING IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FOR

THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE AN AGREEMENT SI

REACHED BETWEEN HMG AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

SECRET

14.

See

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