TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 55

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

The Govt know

senons y no д argument that if noww be bethw Gu Hità if the Joust

Declarati were abaUADONLÓ But if the Four Certain Courequenc

flow from this

confidence in Hong Kong. The Government will play their

act

-

full part in this and will not hesitate to speak out

[and

firmly and robustly in defence of Hong Kong's interests

whenever this may be necessary.

The Government are

acutely aware of the impact of recent events on the

terri territory.

They are intensifying their efforts to

discharge their obligations towards Hong Kong fully and

effectively.7

(II) The Joint Declaration and the Basic Law

5. The Government fully endorse the Committee's view

that to tear up or renege on the Joint Declaration and to

break off negotiations with China over Hong Kong is

simply not an option (paragraph 2.3). They therefore

welcome the Committee's recommendation that the Joint

Declaration be retained as the "best and surest treaty

"

base for the future of Hong Kong (paragraph 2.4). [It

self-evidently the case that it is better for Hong Kong

to return to China with the safeguards enshrined in the

Joint Declaration than with no Agreement at all, our

in the End Theoretica task now is to ensure that those safeguards remain real

and credible and that the undertakings given in the Joint

Declaration are honoured. That is why the Government

took the initiative in calling for a resumption of the

work of the Joint Liaison Group in September. There must

be a continuous dialogue with the Chinese Government

about all aspects of Hong Kong's future. The Chinese

Government have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to

the Joint Declaration. We welcome that reaffirmation.

6.

We have taken careful note of the Committee's

detailed recommendations in respect of the provisions of

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