TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 181

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AS I NOTED IN MY DEPARTURE STATEMENT DURING MY VISIT TO

HONG KONG IN MARCH, A FULLY SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION MUST

SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS, EVEN AS A BASIS FOR CONTINUED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THEREFORE, WE VIEW WITH SOME CONCERN CHINA'S

CRITICISM OF HONG KONG'S BILL OF RIGHTS. IN OUR VIEW, THIS BILL OF RIGHTS ENSURES THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WHICH IS TO FOLLOW IT,

HAS IN PLACE A SYSTEMATIC PROCESS TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS.

IN THIS REGARD, WE WOULD ALSO NOTE WITH CONCERN CHINA'S

MEDIA ATTACKS ON HONG KONG'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS, AND ITS APPOINTMENT OF 44 "HONG KONG ADVISORS," BOTH OF WHICH SUGGEST AN UNEASE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT

BEARS WATCHING.

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE TRENDS OF ECONOMIC SYMBIOSIS AND

GROWTH IN POLITICAL AWARENESS WILL EMERGE MORE CLEARLY.

WHAT

WILL BE VISIBLE IS A HONG KONG MORE HIGHLY INTEGRATED WITH CHINA BUT NO LESS INTEGRATED WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD; A HONG

KONG WHICH STILL FUNCTIONS AS AN OPEN SOCIETY WITH AN

INDEPENDENT LEGAL SYSTEM AND WHERE CIVIL LIBERTIES CONTINUE TO

BE RESPECTED. THAT IS WHAT THE JOINT DECLARATION INTENDS AND

THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG EXPECT.