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OF 070415Z SEPTEMBER 87 INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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MDHIAN 1737
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YOUR TELNO 2325-6 AND PEKING TELNO 1522: LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: INTERVIEW WITH COI.
1. I AM GENERALLY CONTENT WITH THE DRAFT REPLIES IN SECOND TUR SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
(A) A1. AS PRESENTLY DRAFTED, THE ANSWER SUGGESTS THAT HMG HAS A GREATER DIRECT ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG THAN
IS THE CASE. I SUGGEST THAT THE LAST TWO SENTENCES BE REPLACED BY ''UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION BRITAIN REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 30 JUNE 1997 AND IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE FCO TO TAKE A CLOSE INTEREST
KONG AFFAIRS.
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IN ALL HONG
(B) A2. THE WORD ''DEVELOPMENTS COULD BE TAKEN TO REFER TO POLITICAL ACTIVITIES I SUGGEST THE ANSWER SHOULD END
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HONG KONG ISSUES AND TO MEET THOSE INVOLVED IN RUNNING THE
TERRITORY
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(C) A3. IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO OVERSTATE THE EFFECT THAT THE
INVEST- JOINT DECLARATION HAS HAD ON CONFIDENCE OR TO SUGGEST THAT MENT IS NOT LEAVING HONG KONG. I WOULD PREFER THE FIRST HALF OF THE ANSWER TO READ ''UNQUESTIONABLY IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL. IT HAS REMOVED A MAJOR AREA OF UNCERTAINTY AND LAID DOWN IN DETAIL WHAT HONG KONG WILL BE LIKE FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS. VERY FEW OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD HAVE THAT DEGREE OF CERTAINTY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT THE AGREEMENT IS HOLDING UP WELL. WE AND THE CHINESE SHARE A CONTINUING, ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO SEEING.
(D) A4. DELETE ''IN THE FUTURE
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IN THE SECOND SENTENCE. LAST
SENTENCE TO START ''BUSINESSMEN, FOR THEIR PART, WILL BENEFIT IF THEY KEEP THEIR NERVE.
(E) A5. I SUGGEST THAT THE LAST SENTENCE SHOULD READ ' I AM GREATLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VISIT.
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