TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 296

SECRET

JES.

proposals for Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region and examined their implications.

11.

of an

In April 1984 the two

two sides completed initial discussion of the

working papers tabled by the British side, leaving a number of

outstanding points unresolved. Both sides tabled drafts

agreement and associated documents. At the invitation of the

Chinese Government the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary visited

Peking from 15 to 18 April. During his meetings with Chinese

leaders the two sides reviewed the course of the talks on the future

of Hong Kong, and further progress was made. In Hong Kong on

20 April Sir Geoffrey Howe made a statement on the approach of the

British Government to the negotiations.

He said that it would not

be realistic to think of an agreement that provided for continued

British administration in Hong Kong after 1997: for that reason the

British Government had been examining with the Government of China

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, and that would preserve the way of life in Hong Kong, together with the essentials of the present systems.

12.

In Apr

After Sir Geoffrey Howe's visit, negotiations continued on the same pattern as before. In addition a working group was established in June 1984 to meet full-time

full-time in Peking and consider documents

tabled by both sides. In July 1984 the Foreign and Commonwealth

Secretary again visited Peking. The visit was devoted almost

entirely to the future of Hong Kong. Very substantial progress was

made towards agreement on the form and content of documents which

would setfout arrangements for Hong Kong's future with clarity and

precision, in legally binding form.

13. [Paragraph on The Joint Liason grap] 13. [Last phase of negotiations.]

SECRET