4. 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 IN PEKING IS A MATTER FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HAVE REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT. THEY HAVE ALSO FORMALLY STATED THAT THEIR AIM IS TO SEEK A SETTLEMENT WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
5. AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, YOU, SIR J AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE VISITED LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY AND OTHER MINISTERS THREE TIMES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS: AND MINISTERS HAVE REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL INFORMED AND TO RECEIVING THEIR ADVICE.
6. DURING THESE VISITS TO LONDON THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS AND THOSE OF THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES IN THE COUNCIL DIRECTLY KNOWN TO BRITISH MINISTERS. THEY HAVE DONE SO AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF WIDE AND INTENSE PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE FUTURE, AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPINIONS AND CONCERNS CONVEYED TO THE GOVERNMENT BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGH THE MANY CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM. THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAS ALSO VISITED THE TERRITORY TWICE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO HEAR AT FIRST HAND THE VIEWS OF A WIDE CROSS- SECTION OF PEOPLE. AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, HOPES HIMSELF TO VISIT HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
7. THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THE GENERAL WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS TERRITORY. AS YOU, SIR, PUT IT IN YOUR LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE IS, IN ESSENCE, THE CONTINUATION OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE. THAT IS THE OUTCOME WHICH THEY WISH TO SEE FROM THE TALKS NOW BEING CONDUCTED IN PEKING. MANY PEOPLE HAVE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND IN MANY FORA, SPOKEN OUT IN ELABORATION OF THAT MESSAGE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS COUNCIL. THIS DEBATE HAS GIVEN THEM A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR VIEWS TO THOSE EXPRESSED BY MANY OTHERS, ON THE FACTORS WHICH THEY BELIEVE MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF THE EVENTUAL ARRANGEMENT IS TO SERVE THE
BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
6. DURING HIS RECENT VISIT, THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS, MR RICHARD LUCE, REMINDED US THAT ON THE BRITISH SIDE ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTW WOULD HAVE TO GO TO PARLIAMENT FOR ENDORSEMENT. OTHER PARLIAMENTARY VISITORS HAVE RECALLED THAT PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. IN CONSIDERING THE AGREEMENT.
2
SECRET
11/
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.