GRS 2000
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELNO 55
OF 190345Z JANUARY 87
ס
{ Asia DOS DOL
INFO PRIORITY HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO WASHINGTON
INFO PRIORITY HKGO GENEVA, UKMIS GENEVA, FCO
INFO SAVING HKGO SAN FRANCISCO
0401
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
19 JAN 1987
DESK OFF INDEX
PA
HKG/GT/142
CLEARANCE OF KOWLOON WALLED CITY
MIPT. FURTHER TO HKG/GT/141, FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR USE AS NECESSARY WITH THE PRESS. SUBJECT TO THE GROUND
RULES AS DESCRIBED IN MIPT :-
KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE. QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF
1.Q. HAVE YOU CONSULTED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT?
A. YES. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE
CLEARANCE AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS
WE HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED. SEE CHINESE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT.
2.Q. DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE HISTORICAL DISPUTE HAS BEEN RESOLVED/
THAT CHINA ACCEPTS THAT THE WALLED CITY IS PART OF HONG KONG?
A. BRITAIN AND CHINA AGREE THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS PROVIDED
A BASIS FOR BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY BOTH SIDES AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.
3.Q. WAS THE QUESTION OF SOVEREIGNTY SET ASIDE DURING THE DISCUSSIONS
AS IT WAS DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER HK'S FUTURE?
A. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY BOTH SIDES AS A PRACTICAL
MATTER.
4.Q. FOR HOW LONG HAS THE WALLED CITY PROBLEM BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION? WHAT WERE THE CONFIDENTIAL CHANNELS? DID GEOFFREY HOWE DISCUSS IT WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS DURING THE QUEEN'S CHINA VISIT? WAS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM MADE ON SIR EDWARD'S LAST TRIP TO PEKING?
A. THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR SOME MONTHS ON VARIOUS CONFIDENTIAL CHANNELS. OPEN SQUARE BRACEKTS REFUSE TO BE DRAWN
ON DETAIL. CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS.
5.Q. WILL CHINA SUPPORT WALLED CITY RESIDENTS WHO CLAIM UNFAIR
TREATMENT AS A RESULT OF THE CLEARANCE?
RESTRICTED
|A
18
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.