Hong Kong
PRESS CONFERENCE
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TRANSCRIPT OF THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER. HONG KONG, APRIL 20, 1984
01.
RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG - STEVE JOHNSON
CAN THE FOREIGN SECRETARY GIVE ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE THAT WHATEVER IS EVENTUALLY WORKED OUT, AT PEKING, WILL ACTUALLY STICK, THAT IT WILL NOT BE
RE-NEGOTIATED, AMENDED OR OVERTURNED, IF THERE IS A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, EITHER IN PEKING OR IN WESTMINSTER?
THE OBJECT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AS I HAVE SAID, IS TO SECURE AGREEMENT OF A FRAMEWORK OF ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR WHAT WE WANT, THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG AS FLOURISHING AND DYNAMIC SOCIETY, AND FOR THOSE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE INCORPORATED IN AN AGREEMENT THAT IS FORMALLY RECORDED, AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS OF CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, WHICH WOULD THEREAFTER BE BINDING MUTUALLY UPON BOTH SIDES.
02. FAR EAST ECONOMIC REVIEW - PHILIP BOWRING
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A3.
DURING YOUR DISCUSSINGS IN PEKING, DID CHINA GIVE ANY INDICATION AT ALL THAT IT IS WILLING TO AGREE TO FORMAL DETAILED RECORDING OF THE ITEMS YOU MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 8, OF YOUR TEXT HERE, OR TO AGREE TO ANY COMMITMENT TO LINK THESE, OR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE, TO THE CONTINUATION OF THESE TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS
I AM NOT READY TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS IN THE COURSE OF NEGOTIATIONS IN PEKING, BUT I HAVE, IN MY STATEMENT, SET OUT THE OBJECTIVES WHICH WE BELIEVE COULD, AND WE WANT TO, ACHIEVE UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN MIND, AND THOSE DO. OF COURSE, INCLUDE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE KIND YOU HAVE IN MIND.
DIANA LIN, ATV
IN RECENT YEARS THE HONG KONG GOVERAMENT HAS TAKEN IN MANY THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES FELT A MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOMES FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE FLEEING FROM COMMUNISM. WILL YOUR GOVERNMENT FEEL A SIMILAR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE RE-SETTLEMENT FOR PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG, IF THEY DECIDE THAT THEY CANNOT STAY ON HERE UNDER A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT?
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