TNAG-2608-FCO40-3799-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 34

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to explain his intentions to the Chinese.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT ON HONG KONG/EC RELATIONS

4. At its meeting on 30 April 1991 the committee on External Economic Relations of the European Parliament decided to draw up a report on the ecomomic and commercial

relations between the EC and Hong Kong. The committee considered the draft report on 30 January and 23 February this year.

5. In brief the report supports the 1984 Joint Declaration

and asks the Chinese government to work for the creation of

a general climate of confidence in Hong Kong's future. It stresses the importance of China's unconditional respect for human rights in Hong Kong up to and after 1997. The report asserts that after 1 July 1997 relations with Hong Kong will

no longer be the sole responsibility of one member state but

of the European community as a whole. The community should therefore establish a delegation in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

The

6. The Chinese Ambassador expressed his at this report to Lord Caithness at a meeting on 31 March. Lord Caithness

replied that we recognised that there were a number of comments in the report that China would not accept.

Ambassador said that China did not like the

'internationalisation' of Hong Kong and resented outside inteference in a territory which would become part of China

after 1 July 1997. The Chinese Government felt that the

report would create tensions between the EC and China. He

therefore urged us to do what we could with our European friends to stop the report. Lord Caithness replied that the British Government had no control over MEPs and in any case the report would not lead to any action by the community. Unlike the McConnell Bill, for example, there was no reporting requirement. Lord Caithness advised the

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