TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 243

MOTION FOR THE WHITSUN ADJOURNMENT

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

SPEAKING NOTE

·1.

The future of Hong Kong is a matter of high priority for the

Government. It was debated here on 16 May.

2.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary described in his speech to

the house on that occasion our approach to our negotiations with the

Chinese Government. He said that since it would not be realistic to

think of an agreement providing for continued British administration

in Hong Kong after 1997, we have therefore been exploring with the

Chinese government how it might be possible to arrive at arrangements

that would secure for Hong Kong after 1997, a high degree of autonomy

under Chinese sovereignty. These arrangements would preserve the way

of life in Hong Kong, together with the essentials of the present

systems.

3. We are working for a framework of arrangements that will provide

for the maintenance of Hong Kong as a flourishing and dynamic society

and a binding agreement in which these arrangements will be formally

recorded.