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MIPT: LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: INTERVIEW WITH COI
1.
FOLLOWS:
Q (1)
A (1)
Q(2) A(2)
Q(3)
A (3)
TEXT OF COI'S QUESTIONS AND OUR DRAFT REPLIES IS AS
WHAT IS YOUR BRIEF IN THE FCO VIS A VIS HONG KONG AND
CHINA?
AS FCO MINISTER OF STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAR EAST MY BRIEF COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF OUR RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. WE HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG AS A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY. UNDER THE JOINT DECLARATION WE REMAIN FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION UP TO 3U JUNE 1997. AS MINISTER OF STATE IT IS MY JOB TO ENSURE, IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, THAT THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS FULLY EXERCISED.
WHY ARE YOU VISITING HONG KONG AT THIS TIME?
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST OVERSEAS VISIT SINCE TAKING OFFICE AS AN FCO MINISTER IN JUNE. IN VIEW OF MY NEW RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, I REGARD IT AS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD VISIT THE TERRITORY AS EARLY AS I CAN TO BRIEF MYSELF FULLY ON CURRENT HONG KONG ISSUES AND TO SEE DEVELOPMENTS AT FIRST HAND.
IN RETROSPECT, DO YOU THINK THE AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL? IS IT
HOLDING UP WELL?
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UNQUESTIONABLY IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL. I THINK THAT WITHOUT THAT AGREEMENT YOU WOULD BY NOW HAVE SEEN CONFIDENCE AND INVESTMENT EBBING FROM HONG KONG AS 1997 DREW NEARER. BUT, WITH THE AGREEMENT, LOOK AT THE STATE OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY NOW IT'S THRIVING. IT CONTINUES TO BE A GOOD PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK. THIS PARTIALLY ANSWERS THE SECOND HALF OF YOUR QUESTION, BECAUSE IT IS FIRM EVIDENCE THAT THE AGREEMENT IS HOLDING
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