CON
PENTIAL
TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION. WE ARE MAKING A PARTICULAR POINT OF KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG OPINION, NOTABLY THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. MR LUCE PAID ANOTHER VERY USEFUL VISIT TO THE TERRITORY BETWEEN 25 AND 28 FEBRUARY, WHEN HE AGAIN MET REPRESENTATIVES OF A WIDE RANGE OF
LOCAL OPINION. THESE 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. I HOPE TO VISIT HONG KONG MYSELF SOON. SUCH VISITS ARE
AN IMPORTANT MEANS, IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO, OF KEEPING IN CLOSE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG.
THROUGH THE CONTACTS WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE HAD WITH THE
HONG KONG PEOPLE WITH INDIVIDUALS REFLECTING A WIDE RANGE OF
OPINION WE HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THEIR OVERRIDING CONCERN IS A
PRACTICAL ONE. THEY WISH TO SEE CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS AND
THE FREEDOMS WHICH CHARACTERISE HONG KONG LIFE TODAY. THEY WISH
TO BE CERTAIN THAT IN FUTURE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE CURRENT LEGAL
AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS WILL BE MAINTAINED: THAT HONG KONG'S ECONOMY
WILL REMAIN OPEN TO WORLD MARKETS: THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
SPEAK AND MEET AND TRAVEL AS THEY WISH. HMG FULLY UNDERSTOOD THIS
CONCERN. AT PRESENT CONTINUITY IS GUARANTEED BY BRITISH
ADMINISTRATION. IN THE FUTURE IT IS POSSIBLE TO VISUALISE A
NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH CONTINUITY MIGHT BE ASSURED. THE IDEAS ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE, PUBLICLY EXPRESSED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THEMSELVES LAY HEAVY STRESS ON CONTINUITY. OUR
PRESENT TASK IS TO EXAMINE ALL OPTIONS THOROUGHLY AND SERIOUSLY
TOGETHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WE SEEK AN ARRANGEMENT
ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO THIS HOUSE AND
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE
BEAR IN MIND THE REALITY OF THE LEASE ON 92 PER CENT OF THE
TERRITORY, WHICH EXPIRES IN 1997. WE ARE STILL NEGOTIATING. SHAPE OF THE FINAL PACKAGE WHICH WE BRING TO THIS HOUSE FOR
APPROVAL WILL BE CRUCIAL. I BELIEVE THAT, WHILE CHANGE IN
HONG KONG, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EVOLVING SOCIETY, IS INEVITABLE, WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL ASSURE GENUINE CONTINUITY OF AUTONOMY AND FREEDOM FOR HONG KONG.
-
THE
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
EIKD
PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/D/PUSD
PES B. (3R TALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/ME LUCE
PS/FUS
SER J BULLARD
STR W HARDING-
KR WILSON
12 FRIGENT SIR C MONELLT,
COPLES TO:
BUCKINGHAK PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
HR BURROWS
NEWS D
LEGAL:"ADYS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR. BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR ? CRADOCK EV K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
-2-
CONTIDENTIAL
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