TNAG-1885-FCO40-2676-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong---1989 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

the

hievements so far. None of this has been won

easily: each agreement has required meticulous and

persistent negotiation in order to secure the best

possible arrangements for Hong Kong on terms fully

consistent with the Joint Declaration.

6. Much remains to be done (the outline agenda for the

coming years is at Annex II). We are on schedule so far;

but in order to keep up the momentum we shall need to

sustain firm and steady pressure on the Chinese at all

levels and to continue the process of educating them

about the realities and sensitivities of Hong Kong

process which of course began with the negotiations of

the Joint Declaration.

Basic Law

7.

Our influence on the drafting of the Basic Law has

been no less important. While maintaining the public

position that the drafting is the responsibility of

China, we have succeeded in establishing a number of

channels through which to influence the drafting process.

Our impact on the draft has been a significant one. We

have moreover secured the tacit acknowledgement by the

Chinese of Parliament's right to debate the draft and to

have their views passed through diplomatic channels to

the authorities in Peking. Annex III contains a summary

of the improvements which we know have been made to the

first draft (published in April 1988) and which will

appear in the second draft (to be published in April