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023435
{
HK.B 020 123
MDHOAN 8144
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TELNO 121
OF 21193OZ NOVEMBER 89
hu
TOP COPY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG
Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 252, HONG KONG TELNO 3481 AND PEKING TELNO 2038: INTERNATIONALISATION OF HONG KONG
1. FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF FCO SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS TODAY IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EDITORIAL IN THE PEOPLE'S DAILY
OF 20 NOVEMBER:
IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROSPERITY OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION DEPENDED ON MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG DURING AND BEYOND THE PERIOD OF TRANSITION. THE JOINT DECLARATION ITSELF MADE CLEAR THAT THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHOULD REMAIN AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE.
THIS SUPPORT WAS VITAL FOR HONG KONG IF IT WAS TO MAINTAIN ITS STATUS AS A TRULY INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CENTRE (FOR EXAMPLE, HONG KONG IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER PORT, ELEVENTH IN THE LEAGUE OF THE WORLD'S TRADING ECONOMIES, AND HAS 136 OVERSEAS INCORPORATED BANKS).
FOR THESE REASONS BOTH BRITAIN AND CHINA VIGOROUSLY PROMOTED THE JOINT DECLARATION AFTER IT WAS SIGNED, WORKING TO GAIN DUE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT IN ESTABLISHING THE FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY. THIS EXERCISE WAS
VERY SUCCESSFUL: THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE JOINT DECLARATION.
IN RESPONSE TO A FURTHER QUESTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUPPORT WAS NOW AS VITAL AS EVER. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND FOR PRESENT CONFIDENCE THAT THIS SUPPORT SHOULD NOT WANE NOR SHOULD IT APPEAR TO BE DOING SO. THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THIRD COUNTRIES IN HONG KONG MEANT THEY HAD A NATURAL INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY. THAT WAS QUITE
DIFFERENT FROM ANY SUGGESTION THAT THIRD COUNTRIES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE IN HONG KONG'S POLITICAL SITUATION.
WE WOULD, THEREFORE, CONTINUE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND PROMOTE HONG KONG'S FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHENEVER APPROPRIATE. WE HOPED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO THE SAME. FAR FROM 'BREACHING THE JOINT DECLARATION', WE SOUGHT ONLY TO MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR ITS
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