TNAG-1842-FCO40-2617-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 104

PJZAGN (6)

I.

CHINESE ATTITUDE TO HONG KONG

WHAT GUARANTEE THAT CHINESE WILL NOT DISREGARD THEIR OBLIGATIONS

UNDER JOINT DECLARATION AFTEr 1997?

Would be totally against their own interests to do so.

Would undermine stability and prosperity of Hong Kong in which Chinese have major stake both economically (Substantial 2-way trade and investment links) and politically would rule our prospect of eventual unification with Taiwan).

Would undermine whole concept of "one country/two systems"

Joint Declaration is binding international agreement registered by both Governments at UN. Chinese have never reneged on their international obligations even during Cultural Revolution.

RULE OF HONG KONG AS CONTACT POINT WITH TAIWAN

Hong Kong useful to China as point of contact with Taiwan both for economic contacts (transit point for goods) and for "political" contacts eg over recent hijacking of Taiwanese plane to Canton.

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