TNAG-1341-FCO40-17721-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1985 — Page 112

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the hands of a Communist dictatorship.

Is this morally

defensible or is it really true that in international politics

the highest form of morality is one's own national interest?

PRIME MINISTER

Can I just say this to you: what do you think would

have happened if we had not attempted to get an agreement?

In 1997, 92% of the Territory would automatically have returned

to China without any assurances, without any of the advantages

of the Agreement that we have now.

May I not put it to you that the situation now is

vastly better for Hong Kong and accepts and honours and

acknowledges the fact that China wishes the lifestyle of Hong

Kong to continue under that Agreement.

I think you would have had great cause to complain had

the Government of Great Britain done nothing until 1997, and

I believe that most of the people

·

indeed, the overwhelming

number of people in Hong Kong

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think the same. You may be

the solitary exception.

LAWRENCE NCDONALD (APP)

Prime Minister, I would like to ask a question about

the drafting of the basic law.

Did you seek from the Chinese Leaders, during your

visit to Peking, any assurances that Hong Kong people would

not only be consulted on the drafting of the basic law, but