TNAG-2917-FCO40-4192-International-support-from-Australasia-regarding-the-future--1993 — Page 33

UNCLASSIFIED

FM CANBERRA

TO TELELETTER FCO

UNCLASSIFIED

MKD 021

RECE

/s

3 OSEP 1993

37

073276

MDTTAN 1366

INDEX

TELELETTER NFR

OF 222235Z SEPTEMBER 93

AND TO TELELETTER HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

FROM: D G BLUNT, CANBERRA

TO:

HKD,

FCO

CC:

J ASHTON ESQ, DPA, HONG KONG

N J COX ESQ, PEKING

H LL DAVIES ESQ, UKREP JLG HONG KONG TCF FLEAR ESQ MVO, SPD, FCO

239

れ

the Marrig

As

to re

!) My Wood! 2) pu if (Australian 27/9. 2014

Wit

We have

this

AUSTRALIA-HONG KONG

SUMMARY

1. MORE SUPPORTIVE AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS ON HONG KONG.

DETAIL

2. I AM SENDING BY BAG (COPIED TO HONG KONG) THE TEXT OF AN

ADDRESS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG BY

MOST OF THIS

CONCENTRATED ON THE TRADE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES, BUT HIGHLIGHTED HONG KONG'S TRADING IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY TO AUSTRALIA IN BILATERAL TERMS BUT ALSO IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT. HOWEVER, TOWARDS THE END OF HIS SPEECH, SENATOR COOK ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT HONG KONG NOT ONLY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN AUSTRALIA'S ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA BUT WAS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER TO AUSTRALIA IN ITS OWN RIGHT: A KEY FINANCIAL CENTRE, A MAJOR SOURCE OF INVESTMENT, A SOURCE OF

· MIGRANTS AND FULL FEE-PAYING STUDENTS TO AUSTRALIA. HE CONTINUED

THAT AUSTRALIA HAD A STRONG INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES IN ALL THESE ROLES. WE KEENLY WATCH THE PROCESS OF

TRANSITION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. WE APPRECIATE THAT BRITAIN AND

CHINA ARE NOW AT A DELICATE STAGE IN NEGOTIATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITION. WE HOPE THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE 2 SOVEREIGNS POWERS CAN BE CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY.''

alvene SENATOR COOK (MINISTER FOR TRADE) ON 15 SEPTEMBER.

SIGNED.

-

*

·

D G BLUNT