TNAG-2225-FCO40-3196-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Australia-1991 — Page 3

BULL POINTS

Little point in debating the history.

Political fact is

that 92% of territory of Hong Kong reverts to China in 1997. Unlike any former or present Dependent Territory in that self-determination is simply not an option.

It is not the case that the Joint Declaration was

negotiated without any concern for the views for the people

of Hong Kong. The Governor and his advisers were closely

involved in the whole process of the negotiations, and, after a first draft of the Joint Declaration was published, a comprehensive consultation exercise was undertaken to

elicit the views of the people of Hong Kong before the final agreement was signed in December 1984.

- Highly detailed nature of the Joint Declaration, and the transfer of very many of its provisions into the Basic Law which will come into force in 1997, provide the surest basis

for maintaining confidence in Hong Kong and after 1997.

Britain committed to maintaining effective administration

until 1997. British Ministers and Parliament take very

close interest in Hong Kong affairs.

- The Hong Kong Government have taken specific steps in the direction of representative government. At the same time, the British Government have pressed the Chinese hard to

accept a greater degree of democracy in Hong Kong's

institutions both before and after 1997. We will continue

to do so.

-

Key

Hong Kong's direct elections held in September 1991.

now is to pursue two aims: steady progress towards a greater

degree of direct elections in Hong Kong; and that this

progress is sustained without interruption after 1997.

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