TNAG-2493-FCO40-3625-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1992 — Page 108

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Reference

Mr Ricketts

На Вана на Para 3.

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Ho it won't ship 心

STATEMENT BY CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON 12 Novitem saying

NOV'

it,

1. I attach a copy of an SWB report of a statement made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman in response to Gareth Evans comments in support of the Governor's proposals. It again demonstrates Chinese neuralgia about Internationalisation. They are very clearly concerned that they are vulnerable to international pressure.

2. The spokesman also goes on to repeat the assertion that Hong Kong is a bilateral affair until 1997 and an internal matter for China after then. As Miss Brooks has pointed out this is not in accordance with the JD. In general as a party to the JD the UK has a locus to ensure its implementation (and complain if it is not) and in particular the JD says that the JLG will continue in operation until the year 2000.

3. You had previously agreed that the next time the Chinese made this assertion we would challenge it. You may think that in present circumstances a public challenge would be unnecessarily provocative. Nevertheless you may feel that Mr Hum might point this out to the Chinese Ambassador the next time he is talking to him.

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RAJBut

RAJ Bunten

13 November 1992

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CODE 18-77

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