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MDLOAN 39
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REFERENCE TO THE AIRPORT AGREEMENT.
GUARANTEE THAT 'MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPORT WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE HANDS OF THE SAR.' RECOGNITION THAT HONG KONG MAY CONCLUDE ASAS ON ITS OWN AFTER 1997 WITH PRIOR AUTHORISATION FROM THE CPG: AND
RECOGNITION THAT MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY BEFORE AND AFTER 1997 IS IN HONG KONG'S, CHINA'S, BRITAIN'S AND THE WORLD AT LARGE'S BEST INTEREST.
2.
LU PING THEN FIELDED QUESTIONS, INCLUDING ONE ABOUT MARTIN LEE'S ELECTION VICTORY. LU PING'S RESPONSE CARRIED THE CLEAR IMPLICATION THAT LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF DEMOCRACY HAD LEAD THE HONG KONG PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THE WRONG CANDIDATES. HE ARGUED FOR A GRADUAL EVOLUTION OF REFORM AND DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG.
3. THE GENERAL TONE OF THE SPEECH WAS UPBEAT, AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE AS A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE SPEECH HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED FAVOURABLY IN THE UK PRESS TODAY. AS ONE COMMENTATOR PUT IT, LU PING LISTED HONG KONG'S ACHIEVEMENTS AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOMETHING PEKING RATHER THAN LONDON SHOULD BE PROUD OF: WITH THE ENCOURAGING IMPLICATION THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MAINLAND TO MESS IT UP.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
60
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED NEWS D
PLANNERS
DISTRIBUTION
64
PUSD
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
2
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