TNAG-1885-FCO40-2676-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong---1989 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

which Hong Kong's prospects are perceived, both by the

people of Hong Kong and by the international community.

But as co-signatory of the Joint Declaration, Britain is

well placed to influence the thinking and actions of the

Chinese Government; and as the power responsible for the

We

administration of Hong Kong until 1997 we have an

opportunity to develop policies that will serve, and be

seen to serve, Hong Kong's best interests after 1997.

can also do a very great deal to boost local morale and

confidence by discharging in a full and wholehearted way

our responsibilities towards the territory and by

demonstrating the importance we attach to our bilateral

relationship with Hong Kong. We must start now to

establish the foundations of a relationship that will

endure and flourish after 1997.

Against this background, our current main objectives

for Hong Kong can be summarised as follows:

3.

(a) to ensure that the Chinese Government stick to

the assurances in the Joint Declaration about Hong Kong's

future and to work steadily for the full implementation

of that Agreement;

(b) to prepare Hong Kong for the change of

sovereignty, in particular by the steady development of

representative government in the territory in line with

the wishes of the community as a whole; by ensuring a

smooth transfer of authority in 1997; and by measures to

enhance before 1997 the high degree of autonomy that