TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 129

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8.

In the meantime, we are working on a full and detailed reply

to the report. We envisage that it will contain the following

elements:

(a) A firm reaffirmation of HMG's commitment to the Joint

Declaration. The report is very useful in this respect, confirming

that the Joint Declaration remains "the only firm treaty base" for

the future

(b)

Endorsement of the comment in the report that responsibility for the restoration of confidence rests primarily upon China. The

reply will make clear that this is precisely the message we have

been conveying to the Chinese in our meetings both in the JLG and the Secretary of State's meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister

at UNGA.

(c) A fairly detailed commentary on the points in the report on the Basic Law. We have no difficulty with the idea that the Basic Law

should be the "son" of the Joint Declaration in the sense that the

Basic Law is designed to give practical effect to the Joint

Declaration. But we have to make clear that it remains a Chinese

law, which must be enacted in accordance with the Chinese

constitution.

(a) On the stationing of the PLA, the reply will make clear what we have already done to impress upon the Chinese the need to take account of the enormous sensitivity of the issue in Hong Kong. But

we will also signal the fact that in the final analysis this is a

matter for the Chinese.

(e) On democracy, the reply will have to explain that what the Committee have proposed is unrealistic and goes beyond any sort of

consensus in Hong Kong. It is not yet clear at this stage whether we will be able to go into any more detail about 1991 or 1995.

(£) We envisage a firm declaration of Britain's commitment to Hong Kong's future. It would be helpful if we could include more details

BIFABM3

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