TNAG-1934-FCO40-2760-Future-of-Hong-Kong-follow-up-to-13th-meeting-of-the-Sino-Br-1989 — Page 15

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

3

RESTRICTED

HKC031/25

036523 5090

TOP CORDHOAN

Q DIST

TO DESKBY 100001Z HONG KONG

TELNO 2029

OF 09150OZ OCTOBER 89

INFO DESKBY 100001Z PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PEKING TELNO 1794 : AMBASSADOR KE'S REMARKS IN THE PEOPLE'S DAILY, 9 OCTOBER

1.

WE HAVE SEEN THE REUTER'S REPORT OF KE'S REMARKS, BUT WE NOT A FULL ENGLISH TEXT. AS

SOON AS ONE BECOMES AVAILABLE, PLEASE FAX IT TO HKD DESKBY 10080OZ GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW THE STORY IS BEING REPORTED

IN HONG KONG.

2-

THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE PRESS INTEREST HERE (THE STORY WAS CARRIED ON RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME) BUT JOURNALISTS ARE PREPARED TO CONCEDE THAT THE REMARKS ARE NO MORE THAN A REPETITION

OF KE'S

PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING JLG XIII NEWS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN

TAKING THE FOLLOWING HOLDING LINE:

3.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE FULL TEXT OF AMBASSADOR KE'S REMARKS

BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT HE SAID ANYTHING SIGNIFICANTLY NEW (THE POINTS WERE MADE AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE IN LONDON IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE JLG MEETING).

- OUR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG ARE

WELL KNOWN. THEY WERE PUT FORCEFULLY TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AT THE RECENT JLG MEETING.

THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO WELL AWARE THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE JOINT DECLARATION IS UNDIMINISHED.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE RETURN TO A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE

WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN HONG

KONG'S FUTURE.

HAS THE UK CONNIVED AT ACTIVITIES (SABOTAGE) AIMED AT

OVERTHROWING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT?

- SUCH A VIEW IS QUITE WRONG. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THEIR DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS UNDER THEIR OWN LEGAL SYSTEM. EQUALLY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SUCH FREEDOMS ARE USED WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS

NO INTENTION TO USE HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR ACTIVITIES

AGAINST THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

OF HONG KONG MUST BE PRESERVED.

BUT THE DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS

WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHETHER A FURTHER RESPONSE WOULD

BE APPROPRIATE AND IF SO AT WHAT LEVEL OUR OPTIONS SEEM TO BE

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED

Page 15Page 16