THE PRIME MINISTER
DIEU
10 DOWNING STREET
Аккона!!!
21 YEARVEY NO. 5 13 NOV 1979
RESISTE
ниво
271
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но разо
WWilliamson J...
D 137..
9 November 1979
"Miss licki' RIrie 13/11
2.
PA.
Что?
Thank you for your letter of 29 October about the interest
shown in Hong Kong in the Far Eastern Economic Review article
suggesting that I should raise the question of Hong Kong's future
during the Chinese Prime Minister's visit to London.
It is understandable that people in Hong Kong should be wondering whether the time has yet come for us to start discussions
with the Chinese authorities over the territory's future. The
Chinese Government, however, have made it clear on more than one occasion that they believe it is still too soon to consider Hong
Kong's future in any detail. This was clearly implied by the
Chinese Foreign Minister during his press conference here in London
last Friday.
At the same time, the Chinese authorities are aware of the
need to reassure investors that their interest will be fully taken
into account when the time does come to consider Hong Kong's future.
They have made a number of statements to this effect this year, and
Premier Hua Guofeng touched on the subject during our discussions last week. The important thing at this stage is that Britain and
China have a mutual interest in maintaining Hong Kong's current
prosperity and stability.
Chris Patten, Esq., M.P.
(SIGNED)
M2