CONFIDENTIAL
4526
MDHOAN 7378
THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
THIS DRAFTING PROCESS IS OF
COURSE A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. (IV) BRITISH POLICY AND ACTIONS
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13. THE GOVERNMENT FULLY SHARE THE COMMITTEE'S VIEW THAT THE PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TO BRITISH INTERESTS (PARAGRAPH 4.3) AND AGREE THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION MET BRITAIN'S SPECIAL OBLIGATION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (PARAGRAPH 4.6). WE WELCOME THE COMMITTEE'S ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONALITY ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN CAREFUL NOTE OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS (PARAGRAPHS 4.15, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23 AND 4.24). IN LINE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION (PARAGRAPH 4.15) WE HAVE TAKEN EVERY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE RAISED THE MATTER WITH COLLEAGUES IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND IN BILATERAL CONTACTS. MOST RECENTLY THE COMMUNIQUE WHICH THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING IN KUALA LUMPUR APPROVED CONTAINED A STRONG REASSERTION OF SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG.
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14. AS THE COMMITTEE WILL BE AWARE WE ARE WORKING URGENTLY ON A SCHEME TO GIVE THE ASSURANCE OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO SOME PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS ON THE BASIS OF VALUE OF SERVICE TO HONG KONG AS WELL AS CONNECTIONS WITH BRITAIN. OUR AIM IS TO GIVE PEOPLE WHOSE PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF HONG KONG THE CONFIDENCE TO REMAIN IN THE TERRITORY. WE SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT. 15
THE GOVERNMENT NOTE THE COMMITTEE'S VIEW OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PARAGRAPH 4.25) AND CONTINUE TO ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPING COOPERATION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN THE INTERESTS OF MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE, PROSPERITY AND STABILITY IN HONG KONG. THE GOVERNMENT CAN ASSURE THE COMMITTEE THAT IT NEVER HAS NOR WILL HESITATE TO MAKE ITS VIEWS KNOWN TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN A FRANK AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY. THE GOVERNMENT FULLY AGREE WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PRESENT BRITISH VIEWS AND POLICIES VIGOROUSLY TO HONG KONG, AND TO LISTEN TO AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE (PARAGRAPH 4.29). WE HAVE RECENTLY APPOINTED A NEW HEAD OF THE INFORMATION SECTION AT THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG, AT FIRST SECRETARY LEVEL.
16. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS (PARAGRAPH 4.31) WORK IS URGENTLY UNDERWAY ON A SITE FOR A FUTURE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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