CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE ROME
TELNO 2
OF 16144OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, ACTOR
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG
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this
HiB 090/4
032717 MDHIAN 6952
Q LIST?
FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY
FCO TELNOS 870-871: CHINA: MESSAGE TO ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER 1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS APPROVED THE DRAFT MESSAGE
TO DE MICHELIS IN FCO TELNO 870 TO WASHINGTON SUBJECT TO A FEW AMENDMENTS. FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED TEXT:
BEGINS
BEFORE YOU VISIT CHINA, I 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 RESONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997.
THESE CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN REFLECTED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE OVER A NEW 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 WILL BE IN PEKING FOR TALKS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ON 18-22 MAY.
IN
I HOPE THAT IN PRIVATE CONTACTS WITH YOUR INTERLOCUTORS CHINA, YOU 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 CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG WILL BE ENHANCED IF BRITAIN AND CHINA CAN COOPERATE EFFECTIVELY TO MANAGE THE TRANSITION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.
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