TNAG-1985-FCO40-2818-Presentation-of-UK-policy-on-Hong-Kong-to-the-media-1989 — Page 112

GIDEON:

FOREIGN SEC 1NT

BRIAN HAYES SHOW LBC

17 MAY 1989

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I think this is not a very fair representation.

I am from

Hong Kong and I do not see that the... and the Communist Party are

so stupid, so to say, as to fight in an election in a very outright

format. I think the Hong Kong people are very shrewd and very

clever.

FOREIGN SECRETARY:

I agree with you about the shrewdness of Hong Kong people and

it is for that. reason that We have been paying throughout all the

discussions that are taking place on this so much attention to the

diversity of opinions held in Hong Kong, You realise that the

various committees that are concerned in drawing up the Basic Law in

advising on it, they all include many representatives of the people

of Hong Kong, many of whom are expressing different polula of view.

Some of the people who are most cautious in the arguments about the

pace of change towards democracy are themselves people from long

Kang and that is why it is a subject of such lively interest and why

it 16 50 bmportant to lay and get it right, judging the opinionc ac

best we can from day to day and month to month. That is the task

that ic now being undertaken as I say with the important.

participation by the Chinese as they draft the Basic Law.