TNAG-2617-FCO40-3808-Visit-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-C-1992 — Page 47

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ARTICLE BY LORD CAITHNESS IN THE HONG KONG PRESS

I shall be arriving on Sunday for my fifth visit since I became the Minister with special responsibility for

Hong Kong 20 months ago. As on previous visits, I look

forward to meeting people from many walks of life and discussing issues of current concern in Hong Kong.

I am sometimes told that Britain doesn't really understand

or care about Hong Kong and that we pay far more attention

to our own relations with China. The facts simply do not support this view. It is natural that as Britain and

China are both members of the Permanent Five at the

United Nations, our bilateral dealings are extensive.

Nevertheless Hong Kong issues are always a central part of our discussions. Indeed, when I see senior Chinese

representatives, Hong Kong usually dominates the agenda.

We take our responsibility for Hong Kong very seriously indeed. We give the highest priority to ensuring that Hong Kong remains stable and prosperous up to 1997 and beyond. Britain has committed herself to making a success of the approach set out in the Joint Declaration. We are determined to carry that out. Hong Kong's interest in this

and Britain's are one and the same.

Let me give some recent examples of what has been achieved by Britain and Hong Kong working together. Firstly the new airport. A replacement for Kai Tak is essential if Hong Kong is to have the facilities it needs to continue growing as a regional centre for both passsengers and cargo, as envisaged in the Joint Declaration. The project also shows

the world that Hong Kong has had the vision and determination to make major investments in its long-term

future.

REGAAO/1

JRB