TNAG-1472-FCO40-2003-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 222

19.

CONFIDENTIAL

- 6

Mr. Desmond Lee referred a senior Chinese official's comment about 'not working according to the book'. Sir S.Y. Chung explained that the 'book' meant the Joint Declaration. Mr. Renton replied that the simultaneity of the 1987 review and the drafting of the Basic Law created a problem of timing hence the convergence problem. The UKG had a responsibility to make sure that the two systems were not antipathetic.

20.

—

Referring to Mr. Renton's remarks about the need for China and Britain to keep in touch, Dr. Kim Cham enquired about the mechanics, whether before or after finalising ideas about future political systems and whether the future political system would be adjusted to avoid misunderstanding. In reply Mr. Renton said misunderstanding would arise from not keeping in touch. JLG would meet again in March and there would be further exchange at ministerial level. The whole business of dialogue and contact was to avoid misunderstanding.

21.

Mrs. Selina Chow said that when Umelco commended the Joint Declaration to the people of Hong Kong, they did so in the belief that the Joint Declaration would be implemented both in letter and in spirit. The fear of a shift in he interpretation of the Joint Declaration was not based on hypothetical assumptions but statements made by Chinese officials, e.g. that 'Hong Kong people rule Hong Kong' was an unscientific concept; and remarks on accountability. The fear was a real one. The 1987 review would provide the chance for Hong Kong Government to show to Hong Kong people that it was not so determined to find the point of convergence as to brush aside the principles regarding autonomy, accountability and representative Government. The principles of the Joint Declaration were most important and the Hong Kong Government must be seen to be upholding the Joint Declaration.

22.

Mr. Renton replied that he understood the worry but was not in a position to comment on how real the fear was. The UKG was committed to implementing the Joint Declaration and had done so through dialogue in the first year after the publication of the Joint Declaration.

CONFIDENTIAL