CONFIDENTIAL
013544
MDHOAN 3310
AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. BUT IN DISCUSSION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES WE HAVE NOT YET AGREED A SATISFACTORY DEFINITION: WE ARE CONCERNED THAT CHINESE OFFICIALS' CURRENT PROPOSALS MIGHT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND ITS ABILITY TO ACT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN FULFILLING ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ADMINISTER HONG KONG UP TO 1997.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD GO ON DISCUSSING. WE COULD DEAL WITH EACH FUTURE ISSUE FOR CONSULTATION ON ITS OWN MERITS AS IT ARISES, BUT IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE GENERAL PRINCIPLES AGREED BETWEEN US IN ADVANCE. WE THINK THAT THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED, IS PROBABLY THE BEST FORUM FOR TAKING FORWARD THIS DISCUSSION. IT MEETS AGAIN IN HONG KONG IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 10 JUNE.
ONE FINAL COMMENT. WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED ALL WE WANTED, BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE DISHEARTENED. I AM SURE HONG KONG'S AIRPORT FACILITIES WILL NOT STAND STILL FOR LONG: THAT IS NOT HONG KONG'S WAY. I AM REMINDED OF THE PAST SET-BACKS ON THE CHANNEL TUNNEL PROJECT BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE: DESPITE MANY DOUBTERS THE PROJECT IS NOW PROCEEDING AT FULL STEAM, WITH THE SECOND AND THIRD TUNNELS ABOUT TO BREAKTHROUGH. AND MORE GENERALLY THESE TALKS HAVE AGAIN REMINDED US OF HOW MUCH COMMON GROUND THERE IS BETWEEN US AND CHINA ON ALL THE ISSUES OF PRINCIPLE. THE JOINT DECLARATION REMAINS AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
PADS SECRET
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
HD/NEWS D
HD/PUSD
32
DISTRIBUTION
40
HD/RAD
PS
PAGE
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
4
CONFIDENTIAL
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