TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 94

POINTS TO

MAKE.

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING OF LOBBY CORRESPONDENTS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, 9 MAY 1145 AM

POINTS TO MAKE

1. The lease on 92% of territory expires in 1997. A

fact we cannot ignore. Not viable for remaining 8% to exist

alone.

2.

Need to remove uncertainty over Hong Kong's future,

so confidence can be maintained. Therefore agreed to enter

into talks with Chinese in September 1982.

3.

CONFIDENTO Akan

Now been 14 rounds of talks in second more detailed phase.

Last round 27/28 April. Present round in progress (9/10 May).

4. Agreed common aim of maintaining Hong Kong's stability

and prosperity.

continuity.

We think this best achieved by maximum

5. Not realistic to think of an agreement providing for

continued British administration after 1997. In talks, been

concentrating on other ways of securing Hong Kong's stability,

prosperity and continuity of systems.

6.

Been examining with China, how it might be possible to

arrive at arrangements that would secure for Hong Kong after

1997 a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty and

would preserve way of life plus essentials of present systems.

7. In a nutshell, British objectives in the continuing

negotiations:

(a)

(b)

a framework of arrangements to provide for maintenance

of Hong Kong's systems, laws and way of life;

an agreement in which these arrangements will be

formally recorded.

18.