TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 68

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THERE WERE VERY REAL DRAWBACKS TO A REFERENDUM. IN THE SPECIAL

POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID

THE RISK OF PROVOKING FACTIONAL DIVISIONS WHICH COULD LEAVE THE

OUTCOME OF A REFERENDUM, OPEN TO REAL DOUBT. IN HONG KONG, WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED ANY PATTERN OF UNIVERSAL SUFFERAGE

FOR ALL ELECTIONS, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THE BEST WAY TO OBTAIN

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FULL RANGE OF OPINION ON THIS COMPLEX MATTER

WAS BY CONSULTATION THROUGH THE WELL-DEVELOPED CHANNELS FAMILIAR

TO LOCAL PEOPLE.

Q7. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO CRITICISM VOICED HERE THAT THE

ASSESSMENT OFFICE WAS A ''SHAM'' AND A COSMETIC EXERCISE''?

A7. SUCH CRITICISM IS UNFAIR. PARLIAMENT EXPECTED TO HAVE A CLEAR

VIEW OF HONG KONG OPINION WHEN IT DEBATED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT

AND THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE PROVIDED THAT. IT WAS PARTICULARLY

VALUABLE THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT SHOULD HAVE SET OUT

SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

THIS LIST WAS NOT ONLY VALUABLE TO PARLIAMENT BUT WILL ASSIST

DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS IN THE JOINT

LIAISON GROUP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.

JOINT LIAISON GROUP

Q8. WILL THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP INCLUDE MEMBERS OF UMELCO?

A2. THE BRITISH DELEGATION WILL INCLUDE OFFICIALS FROM THE HONG

KONG GOVERNMENT AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FULLEST

CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND WITH OTHER REPRESENT-

ATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

Q9. THE WHITE PAPER STATES THAT THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT

LIAISON GROUP WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. BUT WILL THERE BE

REGULAR STATEMENTS FROM THE GROUP EXPLAINING PROGRESS MADE IN

THE DISCUSSIONS?

A9. THE EXACT WORK METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE JLG WILL BE

WORKED OUT NEARER THE TIME.

BASIC LAW

Q10. WERE YOU ABLE TO ASCERTAIN FROM THE CHINESE LEADERS HOW THE

PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DRAWING UP OF

THE BASIC LAW.

A10. TO BE SUPPLIED.

Q11. DID THE CHINESE LEADERS GIVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT THE BASIC

LAW MAY CONTAIN?

A11. THE BASIC LAW IS GOING TO BE PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF

CHINA BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE THAT THE PROVISIONS

OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE INCORPORATED IN. THAT BASIC LAW.

NATIONALITY

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