CONFIDENTIAL
Hkc 012/14
Ma.
FROM: RA J Bunten
Hong Kong Dept
DATE: 11 December 1992
126
M 1/12
Mr Morris
Mr Hum
Cc:
Mr Davies, FED Miss Brooks,
Legal Advisers
CHINESE STATEMENTS ON UK/PRC EXCHANGES POST 1997
1. I attach a coy from today's SWB of a dispatch from the semi-official Zhongguo Tongxun She in Hong Kong. As you can see the "expert" quoted says that we will have no locus to raise Hong Kong with the Chinese after 1 July 1997. He calls upon the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman to make a statement to that effect.
2.
I suspect that in part this article is a response to the statements made by the Governor in Legco on the British moral responsibility. The article represents a hardening and clarification of the Chinese position. It directly attacks our locus to raise Hong Kong issues with the Chinese.
3. It was previously agreed that this matter should be raised with Ambassador Ma when a suitable opportunity arose.
in the light of the Governor's answer to Emily Lau in Legco, Mr Ricketts was of the view that we should wait before raising the subject again. I believe that since the Chinese have returned to this topic ( a vice-director of NCNA repeated their original statement that post 1997 it would be an internal matter for China ), we should put our position clearly to them. We will, at the very least, need to decide how to react if the MFA spokesman does speak on these terms. If it is agreed that we should after all react I will draft a telegram to Hong Kong and Peking. This would give Mr Ricketts a chance to comment.
4. I also attach a copy of the previous agreed speaking note. Perhaps a section could be added to reassure the Chinese that we are not seeking to be able to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs post 1997.
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