TNAG-2355-FCO40-3426-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1991 — Page 17

PQ ON SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG

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To ask the Secretary of State if he will make a statement

on his visit to China and Hong Kong

DRAFT WRITTEN REPLY

нко тогда

I paid an official visit to China from 3-8 April at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister, and visited

Hong Kong for a day at each end of that visit. This was the

first visit by a Foreign Secretary to China since 1986.

In Peking I had two full sessions of talks with the

Foreign Minister and met the Party General Secretary, the Premier, the Chairman of the National People's Congress and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.

With the Foreign Minister I covered major international issues of common concern, including the Middle East, arms

proliferation, and Cambodia. We also discussed a number of

bilateral matters, including commercial relations. I raised

our concerns about human rights, including in Tibet, both with the Foreign Minister and with the General Secretary.

A central element in my discussions was Hong Kong. told the Chinese that we wanted to intensify work on the practical issues which need to be resolved in order to

ensure a smooth transition in 1997. In achieving this we need to respect two key principles. On the one hand,

I

Britain, China and Hong Kong need to cooperate on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. On the other, the

Hong Kong Government needs to be able to fulfil its duty to govern effectively. Seeking the views of China on certain important matters, and paying close attention to those views where possible, is compatible with those principles, but the task of taking decisions rests with the Hong Kong

Government.

FIQABE/1

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