TNAG-1373-FCO40-1819-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 133

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P.M.

You put your finger on the difficulty: the difficulty is that the Lease ends in 1997 and that seemed quite a long way away until the 15th year before the end of the Lease had passed and that's just precisely why we're entering into talks now entering into them in a friendly atmosphere, wishing to reconcile the differences with a common aim of stability and prosperity for Hong Kong. I don't think one could have expected more to come out of my visit to Peking this time; we achieved the objective of talks with a common sim - as I say, so far, so good!

PATRICIA PENN, Australian Broadcasting Commission: Kadam Prime Minister, there is here in Rong Kong quite a strong view among Chinese people and even a legal view, that the 1997 as a year could have been ignored, and perhaps the Chinese would have liked. this to happen because the Treaty is invalid, so therefore it can't terminate.

Was this at any time considered as a

possibility, which is perhaps what the Chinese would welcome?

P.M..

I do not regard the Treaty as invalid.

Britain keeps her Treaties, and therefore I do not think that 1997 could be ignored and even if a government tried to ignore it, I believe it vaa 'quite clear that those who invest in Hong Kong would not have ignored it, and therefore we had to do something about it now, while there is still time.

JESSE WONG, Asian Wall Street Journalı

In a speech earlier today, you mentioned your duty of speaking not only for Britain but your moral obligation to speak for Hong Kong, to take into

Could you tell consideration people of Hong Kong and their views. us how do you see Britain's intérest in this affair, aside from this 'moral obligation', what are Britain's interests economical1 and otherwisè?

P.K.

Well, you say 'aside from the Bandra

I mean, that is our main commitment and responsibility and that's what comes

with us.

The British Government takes no revenue at all out c Hong Kong: I think we in Britain have a similar interest to all

obligation of duty", it's quite a big asidel

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