Background
1.
The Memorandum of Understanding was initialled in Peking
on 30 June by Sir Percy Cradock after long and difficult
negotiations between China and the Hong Kong and British
Governments. The Secretary of State made a statement about
it in the House of Commons on 4 July. The Prime Minister and Premier Li Peng signed it in Peking on 3 September, bringing it into effect.
2.
This Question is probably linked to Mrs Gorman's
Question No 12 about Hong Kong's autonomy. Mr Martin Lee QC
has criticised the Memorandum for involving British and
Chinese interference in a matter which should lie within
Hong Kong's autonomy. He argues that we paid too high a
price for China's support and that it would have been better
to have no airport than this deal.
3. The draft reply shows the balance of "undertakings".
(Since a Memorandum of Understanding does not have binding
effect in international law we should not repeat
Mrs Gorman's other term "obligations".) The draft is long
and could be shortened by a reference to the statement of
4 July, but that did not specify the undertakings or
assurances in the Memorandum (which was placed in the
Library). This is an opportunity to place them on record in
the way we jauge most effective to the Government's case.
ARTAGJ/1
X
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.