how Hong Kong was run.
Sir G Howe's visits to China
6.
The purpose of his April 1984 visit was to determine how
work to date could be translated into an international
agreement which clearly covered the main points whilst maintaining China's position of principle that it alone was responsible for Hong Kong after 1997. A major achievement of Sir G Howe's visit was the establishment of the working
groups.
1984 "Reference Point"
7. You confirmed that the Chinese wanted Hong Kong's
existing systems frozen between 1984 and 1997 but we had
never accepted this since Hong Kong was a dynamic place.
Mr Roberti challenged the British view in 1984 that the JD,
once negotiated, could not be amended by quoting an NCNA official stating the opposite. You said that it would not
be in Hong Kong's interests to unravel the JD: although we
may want to improve it in parts, the Chinese undoubtedly
would too.
Working Groups
8.
You confirmed that your Working Group dealt with ASAS,
land, nationality and right of abode. On the device of the
exchange of memoranda, you explained that while the Chinese
recognised that Hong Kong people should be able to continue
to use British passports after 1997, they had to reconcile
this with the position of principle in Chinese nationality
The link between "travel documents" (ie BN (0)
passports) and Hong Kong permanent identity cards was later
resolved in the JLG through the device of an endorsement.
On land you denied that the percentage of land funds to be
law.
MUKAMB/3
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