TNAG-1411-FCO40-1887-Future-of-Hong-Kong--Hong-Kong-a-Change-of-Destiny---despatc-1985 — Page 3

From the Secretary of State

:

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

никого 131

2 : OCT 1995

9 October 1985

7

hydes Governa

заста

Hong Kong: A Change of Destiny

I am most grateful for your despatch "Hong Kong:

A Change of Destiny". In addition to an authoritative

account of the negotiations as seen from Hong Kong, you

record a number of essential points for the future.

I agree with you on the fundamental importance of Britain's moral responsibility to the people of Hong Kong,

a responsibility which the Prime Minister publicly accepted

in 1982. I am convinced that in negotiating the Joint

Declaration we have discharged that responsibility to the

fullest possible extent. Parliament has endorsed that view.

But even more important, my impression is that the people of

Hong Kong generally accept it too.

The responsibility does not however end with the

ratification of the Joint Declaration. We shall do all we

can to see that it is faithfully implemented in the best

interests of the people of Hong Kong.

The negotiations leading up to the Joint Declaration were as unequal for us as the nineteenth century negotiations

had been for the Chinese. The only card we held was, as you the Chinese wish to secure an agreement that would

preserve the economic benefits they derived from Hong Kong.

Sir Edward Youde GCMG MBE

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