DD 210100Z HONG KONG
SECRET
(41)
TOP COPY
7414 1
GRS715
SECRET
DESKBY 210100Z
FM FCO 201700Z MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 511 OF 20 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
MKK040/31
RECEIVLJ İri
Gaib r.
AR 1794
A.
до
MIPT:
CM273
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE:
SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH.
FOLLOWING IS REVISED TEXT.
BEGINS:
1. THE HOUSE WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF I SAY THAT ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES FACING US IS THE FUTURE OF
HONG KONG, IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING. FOR HONG
KONG IS ONE OF THE MOST SHINING EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. ITS SUCCESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A UNIQUE
SYNTHESIS OF BRITISH AND CHINESE TALENT.
2.
-
t
-
!
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED TO BE
ABLE TO PRESERVE THE VITAL ELEMENTS IN THEIR SOCIETY. THE
CONTACTS MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE HAD WITH HONG KONG PEOPLE
WITH INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS THERE
HAVE SHOWN CLEARLY THAT 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 ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL BE MAINTAINED: THAT THE BASIS OF THE
CURRENT LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE: 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 UNDERSTAND
THIS CONCERN.
3.
AT PRESENT CONTINUITY IS ASSURED BY BRITISH ADMINISTRATION.
BUT WE MUST AND DO BEAR IN MIND THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION
AND OF HONG KONG'S UNIQUE HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE LEASE ON 92 PERCENT
OF THE TERRITORY IS DUE TO EXPIRE IN 1997.
1
SECRET
see (4-2)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.