TNAG-1437-FCO40-1921-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 93

DEC 31 '85 17:55 GIS HK

P.19

Date:

30.12.85

Time:

9.35

10.45 a.m.

Reporter:

RG/19

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A.

Hong Kong has to develop in line with.

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the Basic Law, with the Joint Declaration, and clearly the 5 million people of Hong Kong, and their concern and their future, is the responsibility of the British Government until 1997, and thereafter Hong Kong goes back to China.

resumes sovereignty in 1997.

China

So?

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४

Q.

So?

y

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A.

Quite obviously the two Governments

have the concerns of the Hong Kong people very much in mind. That is 11 why the Joint Declaration was constructed and signed.

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0.

But their interests may not seem to

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coincide with Hong Kong people's interests.

may not?

Their joint interests

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A.

Their joint interests are very much,

18 are very clearly defined, in the Joint Declaration, and the Joint

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Declaration was accepted by the people of Hong Kong, and by the Governments of both countries. What we have got to do now is to develop Hong Kong in line with the Joint Declaration.

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Q.

But since the Joint Declaration does

allow some lee-way, I mean say the famous example, direct elections, which would be allowed. And if there is a divergence of opinion between Hong Kong people and Chinese Government on this question, then where is Britain's loyalty going to lie? Is it going to lie with the Hong Kong people or with China?

A.

I don't think that you can predict, prophesy this kind of confrontational situation which is what you seem to be concerned with creating, a situation of conflict, rather than constructive dialogue, to arrive at the form of Government that Hong Kong will have in 1997. I don't think there will be this conflict, and confrontation. I think there will be constructive dialogue, and I think that we will reach our solutions in that spirit of constructive exchange, not from confrontation and not conflict.

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