MP's, the Hong Kong Government and representatives of the PRC
should work to implement the agreement through the establishemnt of practical laws and systems.
(g) Lord Mulley said that the people of Hong Kong would only accept
an agreement with full detail.
3. GUARANTEES
(a) Many Lords said that absolute guarantees were impossible.
(b) Lord Fanshawe said since 1911 China had never broken an
international treaty. We shared with the Chinese a common
interest in the success of Hong Kong and we must not doubt their
sincerity.
(c) Lord MacLehose said it was important that a 50 year term should be written into the agreement. He said the people of Hong Kong
must trust the agreement, they must stick together and be determined to make a success of it.
(d) Lord Shepherd said that Chinese references to a 50 year period
was a good omen. This was an 'attainable period'.
4.
UMELCO AND OTHER DELEGATIONS
(a) Lord Fanshawe said the UMELCO delegation had cleared the air.
He and Lord Geddes criticised some members in the House of
Commons who had cast aspersions on the delgation. Lord MacLehose paid tribute to UMELCO.
(b) Lord Mulley and others welcomed the delegation and praised the contribution of the Unofficials but pointed out that they were
not representative.
(c) Lord Oram commended the proposals of Dr Ding's delegation.
5.
IMMIGRATION
(a) Lord MacLehose said people would be less likely to leave Hong
Kong if they had an assurance firstly that they could leave if
leave they must, and secondly, that HMG would do their best to
ensure that the effective rights presently enjoyed by BDTCS
would be no less after 1997.
(b) Lord Rhodes, speaking for Lord Kadoorie, said that the vast
majority of Hong Kong residents would not want to come to UK.
There was no question of an invasion of the British Isles. But the UK owed them freedom of movement and protection available
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