TNAG-1632-FCO40-2248-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-1987 — Page 176

CODE 18-77

ACEADM

Mr Smith

нав

Reference.

027

HKB 027/7.

1.7.

03 SEP 1937

LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

1.

The attached minute from News Dept is self-explanatory. have had a go at Qs (a), (b), (d) and (e) as

(d) and (e) as follows:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

2.

Under the Joint

H

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. Declaration we remain fully responsible for Hong Kong's administration up to 30 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.

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

early as I can to brief myself fully current Hong Kong issues and to see developments at first

hand.

[JLG etc]

Yes: it remains crucial to Hong Kong's prosperity that business confidence should be maintained. Confidence in the future is high at present. We can best help to maintain that confidence working closely with the Chinese Government to ensure that the Joint Declaration, with its guarantees for the continuity of Hong Kong's existing social and economic system and its lifestyle for 50 years after 1997, will be fully and smoothly implemented. Hong Kong is in its way an economic miracle. We must on our part continue to ensure that Hong Kong provides an environment in which business and enterprise can thrive. Business, on its side, must keep its nerve in the periodic ups and downs and there are sure to be some in the years ahead.

--

No: though I have long hoped to. It is a particularly exciting and challenging prospect for me that my first visit will take place in my capacity of Minister of State with special responsibility for Hong Kong. I am greatly looking forward to the tasks ahead.

The above answers are not very good, I fear: any comments would be welcome. Could Future Section please provide an equally anodyne (ur racier, if you like) answer to (c)? I suppose we should really clear these with Hong Kong?

2 September 1987

Leeks