TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 112

H..

Cacideach

WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS, IS TO CONSULT AS FULLY AS WE CAN CONSISTENT WITH CONFIDENTIALITY SURROUNDING THE NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES. I AM QUITE CERTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS IS

IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. IT IS MY EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATING PROCESS HAS TO BE CONDUCTED IN CONFIDENCE. BUT ALONGSIDE THAT, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO CONSULT, IN THE WAY THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED. THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY IS A FURTHER STEP IN THAT PROCESS IN WHICH I HAVE TOLD QUITE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT ABOUT WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PERFORM IN THIS FASHION. OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS THEN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED. IT WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO CONSIDER, FOR PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER, FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO CONSIDER. AS I SAID, TIME WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THAT CONSIDERATION, FOR PARLIAMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

420. BETTY LIU - TVB

H.

Joscana

AND

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AGREEMENT IS REACHED AND ONE SIDE DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES.

HAT IS THE QUESTION THAT COULD BE ASKED ABOUT EVERY AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO HAVE PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE - NAMELY IT IS A FORMULATION AND EMBODIMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES THAT HAVE GOT GOOD BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES EACH OF WHICH WILL HAVE AN INTEREST IN UPHOLDING ITS OWN SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT= INTEREST ARISING FROM WHAT IT ACTUALLY WANTS TO SECURE, ARISING FROM ITS CONCERN FOR ITS OWN REPUTATION BEFORE THE WORLD, AND INTERNATIONAL OPINION. THOSE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ASSURANCE THAT INTERNATIONALLY BINDING AGREEMENTS IS THE RIGHT WAY OF CONCLUDING THIS MATTER.

#21. BETTY LIU, TUB

A.

Nov

complenes

IF ONE SIDE FAILS TO KEEP ITS PROMISES, OR TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ANOTHER SIDE TO TAKE ACTION?

IN ANY AGREEMENT, IF EITHER SIDE IS FAILING TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS, OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER PARTY WOULD WANT TO RAISE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES TO AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT, AND THAT IS WHY, AS I SAID IN MY STATEMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO SECURE AGREEMENT ON THE FRAMEWORK OF ARRANGEMENTS THAT IS NECESSARY, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE COMPONENTS OF THAT FRAMEWORK SPELT OUT CLEARLY IN AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE INTERNATIONALLY BINDING BETWEEN TWO STATES.

022. ANDY IP, KUNG SHEUNG DAILY NEWS

SIR, DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME FORM OF GUARANTEE SO THAT THE AGREEMENT WOULD NOT BE CHANGED IN THE FUTURE?

Mix