TNAG-2032-FCO40-2895-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 32

16. JAN 190 12:58 FROM COI TECHNICAL RADIO

TO FCO NEWS

PAGE.004

TRANSCRIPT G FORRIGE SRC PC

www.da

HONG KONG

Bus

16 JAN 90

FOREIGH SECRETARY:

3

KOOLTY

Because I do not yet know if the best ay which I have

described is attainable,

When I know the answer to that question,

u will be ablo to tała a decision and I du not think that will be

very long.

QUESTION:

But how will you hear whether or not it is attainable?

POREIGH SECRETARY:

We will have to make a judgment as a result of what has been

said here, as a result of contacts with the People's Republic, as

to whether the best way is attainable. If it is not attainable

then we will have, as I have said, to take our own, the British and

Hong Kong Government's own decision in what we believe to be the

best interests of Hong Kong.

QUESTION:

So it is up to China to tell you whether or not it is

attainable?

FOREIGN SECRETARY:

No it is ant.

Obviously if one is talking about a continued

progress after 1997 there are two parts of it one is before and

one is after.

-

WE What is before is within our own decision,

have

to take a decision and that is not a matter which China dictates,

I

made that clear from the very beginning.