PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME:
25 MARCH
File
59
HONG KONG
- The Foreign Secretary has made it clear he remains willing to meet the Chinese Foreign Minister if such a meeting would be useful. Too early to judge when the right moment would be.
As the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 15 March, we want talks with China. We have done everything possible to get talks underway. The door remains open.
Proper Hong Kong participation in the British team is an important point of principle for us. Hong Kong officials have been members of the British team for the past ten years in our discussions with China.
(Defensive: "Separate Kitchen" ie Chinese threats to make separate arrangements for post-1997 Hong Kong)
- Chinese leaders say they will abide by the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. This is the main point.
- Under the Joint Declaration Britain is responsible for administering Hong Kong up to July 1997.
(Defensive: threats to British commercial interests in China)
- Trade relations with China are good. We want to maintain these. Would very much regret it if our disagreement over Hong Kong were to spill over into our broader bilateral relationship.
(Defensive: Sir David Akers-Jones to be an "Adviser" to Peking)
- A distinguished former Hong Kong civil servant. Entitled to his views. Hope he will convey to Chinese Government the strong wish. of Hong Kong people for more democracy.
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