TNAG-1472-FCO40-2003-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 220

CONFIDENTIAL

10.

Mr. Andrew Wong said that 'convergence' in the diplomatic sense implied negotiating to reach a compromise solution. On the analogy with railway lines he commented that two railway lines never converged. They needed shunting before they could converge. He considered that the term 'continutiy' employed by the Secretary of State was a better

If the Basic Law stipulated all the elements of future political institutions, everything would be frozen and there would be no evolution.

11.

In reply, Mr. Renton said that 'convergence' implied two railway tracks meeting at a certain point. He had no problem in accepting the theme of continuity of stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. This concept was right at the heart of the discussions with the PRCG.

12.

In reply to Mr. HUI Yin-fat's questions on the views of senior Chinese officials on the 1987 review and direct elections, Mr. Renton said that the sharing of views was limited but senior Chinese officials did not appear to have any preconceived ideas.

13.

Mr. J.J. Swaine said that there was a fear that the PRCG would push and shout harder than the underlying political will of the UKG would enable it to resist. The British railway line would drift in the direction of the Chinese. The Joint Declaration signalled the lines of future political development. If the PRCG were to take a view of the Basic Law that departed from an objective interpretation of the Joint Declaration, would the UKG resist?

14.

Mr. Renton said that the UKG was fully and absolutely committed to the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The Joint Declaration was more a system of principles than of detail. The 87 review would provide for the working out of a lot of details. He had seen no signs of the British railway line being pushed judging from the work of the JLG. A good example was achieving agreement with the PRCG on the wording of the right of abode endorsement in BN (0) passport. A lot of work from the British side went into it. Through the process of contact the UKG aimed to build on the trust and common interest that led to the Joint Declaration and to make sure that it was fulfilled. Details had to be worked out through contact.

CONFIDENTIAL