TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 5

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MR ALASTAIR GOODLAD

SELECT COMMITTEE

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14 JULY 93

2

MR GOODLAD:

Chairman,

can I say how very much I welcome the committee's

enquiry into China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, it is an area of the world where this country has very important responsibilities and

major economic and other interests. The government are pursuing

those interests vigorously and I much look forward to discussing

them today and to studying your report in due course.

I have, at your request, submitted separately memoranda on Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. As you proposed, I submitted the

memorandum on Hong Kong in time for the Easter recess so as a

result of that it needs some up-dating. There have also been some

very recent developments on China and Taiwan which I would like to

draw to the committee's attention.

On Hong Kong, I will up-date you on progress on the talks with

China on electoral issues and more briefly on the new Hong Kong

airport and on nationality issues. Our memorandum on Hong Kong

included a substantial section dealing with the Governor' s

proposals to develop democracy there. It summarised our efforts

since the Governor announced his proposals in October 1992 to

engage the Chinese side in discussion of them, with the aim of

securing as much continuity as possible in electoral arrangements

beyond 1997.

!