I hope, Prime Minister, that you would sympathize with this view and that HMG will not pressurize Hong Kong to move too quickly and that it will not allow itself to be pressurized by British MPS or the vocal minorities in Hong Kong for Hong Kong to move too quickly and at high risk.
The next 12 years
We all accept that the next 12 years up to 30 June 1997 will
bring many changes to life in Hong Kong. We accept that
this is inevitable. It is, therefore, more important than
ever before in our history that HMG and Hong Kong Government should remain totally committed to governing Hong Kong effectively. There is concern in the community that the United Kingdom's commitment to Hong Kong may gradually diminish for three very important reasons: (1) possible interference from China; (2) the completion of a fully representative government structure and (3) a tendency for Britain to sacrifice the interest of Hong Kong in the wider interest of Sino-British relationship.
You, Prime Minister, have already repeatedly assured Hong Kong of HMG's commitment to govern Hong Kong effectively in the next 12 years. But the people fear that the Chinese presence in Hong Kong, particularly through the Land Commission and the Joint Liaison Group may, in fact, become a shadow government and that the Hong Kong Government would become a lame duck government. We hope, Prime Minister, that HMG would resolutely resist any attempt by the Chinese, intentionally or unintentionally, to interfere in the day-to-day administration of Hong Kong in the lead up to
1997.
People in Hong Kong also fear that once a fully
representative form of government has been established, HMG would then wash its hands of Hong Kong as in the normal process of decolonization.
I hope to have your assurance,
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