TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 9

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FROM PEKING 150945Z MAY 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 929 OF 15/5/84

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

HKK 040/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

16 MAY 1984

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MY TEL NOS 921 AND 922: CONGRESS.

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

NATIONAL PEOPLE'S

1. IN HIS REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SIXTH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS ON 15 MAY, PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG TOUCHED ON HONG KONG BOTH IN THE FOREIGN POLICY SECTION OF HIS REPORT AND IN A LATER SECTION ON THE REUNIFICATION OF CHINA.

see B98)

2. IN THE FOREIGN POLICY SECTION HE STATED THAT ''SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION'',

3. IN THE SECTION ON THE REUNIFICATION OF CHINA, ZHAO EXPRESSED CONVICTION THAT ** CHINA WAS BOUND TO REACH A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION AT AN EARLY DATE.'' LATER ON IN THIS SECTION, HE REAFFIRMED THAT CHINA WOULD RESUME THE EXERCISE OF ITS SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG

IN 1997. THIS WAS A FIRM POLICY DECISION. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, A SERIES OF SPECIAL POLICIES TOWARDS IT WOULD BE ADOPTED UPON THE RESUMPTION OF CHINA'S EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY. THESE POLICIES WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS:

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A HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHINESE CONST- ITUTION. IT WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY LOCAL INHABITANTS AND WOULD ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.

THE EXISTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND LIFESTYLE WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED AND THE LAWS CURRENTLY IN FORCE WOULD REMAIN BASICALLY UNCHANGED.

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