TNAG-2766-FCO40-3983-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 106

I have heard suggestions that we have changed our policy.

towards Hong Kong, and that we have joined some wider

conspiracy against China. Both are flatly untrue. The whole

world has an interest in China's open door policy and economic

reform. Our policy remains the same. We never lose sight of

the fact that cooperation between Britain and China provides

the best conditions for Hong Kong to flourish.

In the swirl of debate, we should not lose sight of some essential points:

A society as mature as Hong Kong deserves a system in which people have a greater say in the running of

their own affairs. This is recognised in the Joint

Declaration and the Basic Law.

Whatever the detail of the electoral arrangements finally decided by LegCo, the elections should be

open, fair and acceptable to the people of Hong

Kong. I know that members of LegCo will have this in mind as they examine all the proposals put to

them.

Although China has disagreed with a number of the

Governor's proposals, there is still a great deal

of common ground between Britain and China over

Hong Kong. We have a shared interest in

preserving the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and in achieving a smooth transition.

have a shared commitment to the Joint Declaration.

I hope that we can translate that soon into

discussions on the arrangements for the 1995

elections.

We