CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
TELNO 175
OF 211045Z MAY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
16 F
Мав чере
MAB
2 MAY 1991,
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING WASHINGTON
710
052662
MDHOAN 3975
MESSAGE TO THE SINGAPOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER
1.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM ME TO THE SINGAPOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER. PLEASE ARRANGE FOR IT TO BE
DELIVERED.
BEGINS
DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO SINGAPORE LORD CAITHNESS DISCUSSED WITH B G GEORGE YEO THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND RELATIONS WITH CHINA. I WANTED TO WRITE TO YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT TAKES A CLOSE INTEREST - AND RIGHTLY SO IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. I THEREFORE WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG.
IN THE REMAINING YEARS OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG WE WILL NEED TO INTENSIFY OUR COOPERATION WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG, IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN 1997. THIS IS STIPULATED IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. THAT AGREEMENT ALSO STIPULATES THAT BRITAIN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997.
THESE CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN REFLECTED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE OVER THE AIRPORT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THE PROJECT EFFICIENTLY. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE PROJECT ON THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF HONG KONG AFTER 1997: WE HAVE MADE PROPOSALS WHICH SHOULD MEET THESE CONCERNS. OUR NEGOTIATORS ARE IN PEKING FOR TALKS ON
THESE MATTERS.
I HOPE THAT IN PRIVATE CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHASISE TO THEM THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND TO THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY: AND THAT INVESTOR
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