TNAG-1324-FCO40-1736-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 103

SECRET

7730

GEOGRAPHICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.

5. OUR JOB, IN THE LIGHT OF THESE REALITIES, IS TO ENSURE THE

NECESSARY CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG'S SYSTEMS. THIS WILL PRESENT

MANY CHALLENGES FOR US, FOR CHINA AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE

PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES. BUT WE ARE CONDUCTING THE

NEGOTIATIONS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF OUR FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA SEMI COLON AND WITH AN AGREED

COMMON OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE THE CONTINUING STABILITY AND

PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.

1

6. TEN ROUNDS OF INTENSIVE TALKS HAVE NOW BEEN HELD SINCE LAST

JULY IN THE SECOND, MORE DETAILED PHASE OF NEQOTIATIONS. THE

ELEVENTH WILL TAKE PLACE ON 26/27 MARCH. THE TALKS HAVE GONE

AHEAD IN A USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER, NEVERTHELESS, GREAT

PATIENCE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED BY BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE REACH AN

AGREEMENT WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO ALL INVOLVED. OUR

DETERMINATION TO PRESS AHEAD AND TO REACH THAT GOAL IS UNDIMIN-

ISHED. AND WE ARE GETTING ON WITH THE TALKS AS QUICKLY AS WE

CAN. BUT I CANNOT PREDICT PRECISELY HOW LONG THEY WILL TAKE.

7. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG

OPINION, NOTABLY THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL. MY HON FRIEND, THE MEMBER FOR SHOREHAM, PAID ANOTHER

VERY USEFUL VISIT TO THE TERRITORY BETWEEN 25 AND 28 FEBRUARY,

WHEN HE MET AGAIN REPRESENTATIVES OF A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL

OPINION. THESE, AMONG OTHERS, INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS

AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF DIVERSE

SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. SUCH VISITS ARE AN IMPORTANT

MEANS, IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO, OF KEEPING IN CLOSE

PERSONAL TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG. I MYSELF WILL BE

VISITING CHINA IN MID-APRIL FOR TALKS ON HONG KONG WITH THE

CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS. FROM THERE

I SHALL TRAVEL ON TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. I AM

LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS.

8. OUR PRESENT TASK, IN SHORT, IS TO EXAMINE WITH THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HOW THE NECESSARY CONTINUITY MAY BEST BE ASSURED.

WE ARE, AND REMAIN, OPEN TO ANY PROPOSALS WHICH WILL ENSURE THE

2

SECRET

-

1