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HMG "kow towed" to Chinese pressure, eg over direct elections?
Decisions in White Paper were ours alone.
Based on views of Hong Kong people as expressed in the review of representative government.
Evidence is that decisions in White Paper were well received by the community as a whole.
What assurances can HMG give that a smooth transition can be achieved/confidence maintained?
Both sides fully committed to this through steady implementation of Joint Declaration.
JLG is working extremely well: relations at all levels are
businesslike, close and cordial.
Believe that Chinese Government understand, as we do, that
smooth transition is essential for maintenance of the confidence, both local and international, on which Hong Kong prosperity depends.
China has every interest in a Hong Kong which is confident, stable and prosperous.
What is HMG doing to maintain confidence?
we
In all our contacts with the Chinese authorities, emphasise the need for the two sides to be seen to be working through words and deeds for a stable and prosperous future for Hong
Kong.
In our contacts with other governments we remind them that Hong Kong is and will remain an excellent prospect for trade and
investment.
And in Hong Kong itself, we seek to leave no one in any doubt our abiding commitment to Hong Kong and its people. This relates both to the remaining years of British administration and to
the years after 1997 when we retain an involvement as cosignatories
of the Joint Declaration.
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