TNAG-1325-FCO40-1737-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 47

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEFING

I GENERAL QUESTIONS

127

HKK 040/31

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 50CT 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

1. ARE YOU NOT CONDEMNING FIVE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE TO LIVE

UNDER COMMUNI SM?

No.

Although the Hong Kong SAR will be under Chinese sovereignty, the agreement makes quite clear that the socialist system and policies of the rest of China will not be practised there, and that Hong Kong's system and lifestyle will remain unchanged for 50 years.

2.

PARALLELS WITH YALTA/THE ANSCHLUSS/ENFORCED REPATRIATIONS TO

SOVIET UNION AFTER WORD WAR II?

Absolutely no parallel. In the case of Hong Kong the two governments concerned have concluded a binding international

agreement providing that Hong Kong's economic system and lifestyle will remain unchanged for 50 years.

3. PARALLELS WITH FALKLANDS/GIBRALTAR?

The circumstances are not the same. Hong Kong is sui generis in that 92 percent of the territory is covered by a lease with a fixed expiry date.

4.

IF THE VIEWS OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDERS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS

PARAMOUNT, WHY NOT THOSE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE?

Because of the different constitutional and historical circumstances of the two dependent territories, a direct parallel cannot be drawn. The New Territories will revert to China on 1 July 1997, and in practice the choice is between reversion of the whole territory under agreed arrangements and reversion without arrangements. This choice is being clearly explained to the Hong Kong people and they are being invited to comment, against this background, on the overall acceptability of the agreement.

5. THE FALKLAND ISLANDERS HAVE RECEIVED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP: WHY

NOT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE?

The constitutional, historical and geographical circumstances are

CONFIDENTIAL