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MDHIAN 4942
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5. WE HAD A VERY GOOD EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ON CAMBODIA AND, OF COURSE, I ALSO RAISED THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS HONG KONG IS FACING FROM THE RECENT FLOOD OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THESE PROBLEMS AND I KNOW THEY WILL BE DOING ANYTHING THEY CAN TO
HELP.
6. AND NATURALLY WE SPENT SOME TIME DISCUSSING OTHER MATTERS TO DO WITH HONG KONG. WE ARE BOTH VERY SATISFIED WITH THE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS IN IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. I TALKED ABOUT THE CONCERNS BEING EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ABOUT ASPECTS OF THE BASIC LAW, AND WHICH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS ALSO RAISED IN A RECENT DEBATE. IT WAS QUITE CLEAR TO ME THAT MR ZHOU NAN PAID CAREFUL ATTENTION TO WHAT I WAS SAYING, AND THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ARE TAKING EQUALLY CAREFUL NOTE OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG.
7.
YOU WILL UNDERSTAND FROM THIS THAT I FOUND OUR EXCHANGES EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WE ARE BOTH FULLY
COMMITTED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
8.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR IN CHINA. NOW I AM GOING TO XIAN,
WHERE I SHALL BE VISITING A FACTORY THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING ROLLS ROYCE AERO ENGINES UNDER A CO-PRODUCTION AGREEMENT.. THEN ON TO CHENGDU, WHERE I SHALL BE PROMOTING FURTHER BRITISH INVOLVEMENT AND MEETING THE GOVERNOR OF SICHUAN PROVINCE. AND ON WEDNESDAY I GO ON TO HONG KONG, AND THEN HOME.
9. IT'S BEEN A MEMORABLE VISIT FOR BOTH ME AND MY WIFE. WE VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING, AND TO SEEING EVEN MORE OF CHINA, SOON.
ENDS.
DONALD
YYYY
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