CONFIDENTIAL
125600
MDHIAN 6033
see part 2 for
response.
TURE AND PATTERN OF HONG
KONG'S TRADE, THE AIRPORT AND CONTAINER TERMINAL WERE VERY IMPORTANT. THE NEW PROPOSALS MADE A VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT BUT THEY WERE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. SIXTY PER CENT OF THE COSTS WOULD COME FROM PRIVATE SOURCES BUT THE FIRST PLANE WOULD NOT LAND UNTIL JUNE 1997. IT WOULD MEAN THAT THE PERIOD FOR PAYING BACK ALL THE LOANS WOULD BE AFTER THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY AND INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. THE LOANS WOULD BE PAID BACK IN HARD CURRENCY FEES FROM THE AIRPORT AND THE TERMINAL. HE HOPED THE PREMIER WOULD AGREE WITH HIM THAT IT WOULD GIVE A BIG VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE IF THE DEVELOPMENT WENT AHEAD SMOOTHLY.
5. LI PENG SAID HE WOULD LIKE FIRST OF ALL TO COMMENT ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. THE UK WAS AN ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY, THE LEADER OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND HAD A MAJOR STATUS IN EUROPE AND ON THE WORLD STAGE. CHINA THEREFORE ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO GOOD RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN. DURING THE TIME OF MRS. THATCHER'S ADMINISTRATION, THERE HAD BEEN GOOD DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THE SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. AFTER THE INCIDENT OF 4 JUNE, RELATIONS HAD DETERIORATED. THERE HAD BEEN MAJOR DIFFERENCES ON THE HONG KONG SETTLEMENT. BUT, FORTUNATELY, THESE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN RESOLVED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER AND THE AGREEMENT OVER THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD BEEN HELPFUL IN FURTHERING THE SMOOTH ADOPTION OF THE BASIC LAW. SINO-BRITISH
RELATIONS HAD IMPROVED.
6. GREAT CHANGES WERE TAKING PLACE IN THE WORLD, MOSTLY IN EUROPE. THE BALANCE HAD TILTED IN FAVOUR OF THE WESTERN CAMP. MOST EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WERE CHANGING THEIR SOCIAL SYSTEM. IN THE MIDST OF THIS, SOME NEW FACTORS COULD HAVE A DESTABILISING EFFECT. THERE WAS SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE PROBLEM OF REUNIFICATION OF GERMANY. FOR THOSE POLITICIANS WHO WERE FAR SIGHTED, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND ITS HUGE POPULATION WAS OBVIOUS. CHINA WAS IN FACT ONE OF THE STABILISING FACTORS IN THE WORLD. HER ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SYSTEM WERE STABLE. THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS WERE ACTIVELY DISCUSSING HIS REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT AND FROM THE PROCEEDINGS SO FAR HE COULD SEE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEPUTIES GAVE THEIR SUPPORT TO THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE STRONGLY ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE MEDIA IN HONG KONG FOR INFORMATION. THE PRESS MIGHT BE THE MOST FREE, BUT IT WAS ALSO THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE. HE ASSUMED THAT THE REPORTING BY THE
3
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.