TNAG-1722-FCO40-2415-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1988 — Page 226

DSR 11

ised Sept 85)

DRAFT: minute/letter/teleletter/despatch/note

FROM:

Secretary of State

DEPARTMENT:

BUILDING:

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Top Secret

Rt Hon David Howell MP

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

House of Commons

LONDON

SWSWBLE AT:

CAVEAT

In Confidence

HONG KONG: Basic Law

TYPE: Draft/Final 1 +

Reference

MEZAVT

TEL. NO:

Your Reference

ROOM NO:

Copies to:

Thank you

for your letter of 18 July. I am sorry you

were not able to be present during the debate, but I

welcome your interest in these matters.

As I made clear to the House on 15 July, we are doing all

we can to defend Hong Kong's legitimate concerns and

interests.

In addition to our obligations to the people

of Hong Kong, we have the right to satisfy ourselves that

the Basic Law faithfully implements the principles

lembodied in the Joint Declaration. ALL this is firmly on

the record and well understood by the authorities in

Peking.

Enclosures flag(s)

I also explained to the House that we have been pursuing

extensive contacts with the Chinese authorities in which

the Basic Law has been discussed in great depth. I have

raised the matter with my Chinese opposite number.

We