TNAG-1326-FCO40-1738-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 67

(J)

DEFENCE

CONFIDENTIAL

21.

Some noble Lords have referred to the stationing of

Chinese troops in Hong Kong after 1997. The agreement does not state whether such troops will be stationed there or not, but clearly no-one would dispute the right of a country to station troops in any part of the territory over which it has sovereignty if it wishes to do so. The agreement makes clear that the PRC will be responsible for the SAR's defence, but

that public order will be a matter for the SAR Government.

It also states that PLA troops stationed in Hong Kong will

not interfere in its internal affairs. I am confident that

the Chinese Government are fully aware of the sensitivities in Hong Kong on this point, and will take them into account.

22.

The draft agreement does not deal with the question of conscription. There is certainly no suggestion in it that there will be conscription in the SAR, nor has the Chinese Government made any suggestion that there will be. Given the PRC's overall responsibility for defence, this is obviously a question for them. But that they are aware of the strong views which have been expressed on the subject in Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL