TNAG-1330-FCO40-1757-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 38

FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN, SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAVE DEVELOPED WELL ON THE BASIS OF THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE. NOW, THE TWO GOVERNMENTS IN A SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION AND MUTUAL ACCOMMODATION AND UNDERSTANDING HAVE REACHED A SATISFACTOR

Y

AGREEMENT ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION THROUGH PEACEFUL NEGOTIATION. THIS HAS REMOVED THE OBSTACLE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IT IS IN THE COMMON INTEREST OF CHINA AND BRITAIN TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

WE BELIEVE THAT CHINA AND BRITAIN, IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF FRIENDLY COOPERATION WHICH MARKED THE PROCESS OF TALKS, WILL COOPERATE STILL MORE CLOSELY DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT. WE ALSO BELIEVE

THAT WITH THE SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION THE FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL BE FURTHER CONSOLIDATED AND DEVELOPED.

NOW, I HAVE THE HONOUR ON BEHALF OF THE STATE COUNCIL TO SUBMIT THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, TOGETHER WITH THE ABOVE REPORT

AND EXPLANATIONS.

ENDS

EVANS

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

=