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DAILY TELEGRAPH
14 FEB 1972
REASSURANCE
FOR HONGKONG BY SIR ALEC
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By Our Staff Correspondent in Hongkong.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home, the Foreign Secretary, who has been accompanying the Queen on her tour of Thailand, flew into Hong- kong yesterday. Observers see his mission as primarily aimed at dispelling lingering doubts in the colony on the repercussions of Britain's entry into the Com- nion Market.
lle said he hoped to show the confidence that Britain has in the future of Hongkong. That he; should choose to raise this ques- tion on the eve of President. Nixon's trip to China is re- garded as an indication of cautious optimism on the part of the British Government to- wards the Peking talks.
During discussions today Sir Alec will emphasise that any improvement of relations be tween Peking and Washington or Peking and London must be to the benefit of Hongkong. This would mican increased trade and even some definition of future security.
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