CK 0E05 HANN
UKP343 EPA196 0918 CARRINGTON:
BY JAN MACKENZIE
PEKING, MARCH 31, REUTER -- SENIOR CHINESE SOURCES SAID TODAY PEKING WAS IN NO HURRY TO SETTLE THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE WITH BRITAIN, BUT REASSURED INVESTORS IN THE COLONY THAT THEIR INTERESTS WOULD NOT BE HARMED WHATEVER THE SOLUTION.
SPEAKING TO REUTERS ON THE EVE OF A FIVE-DAY VISIT TO CHINA BY THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, LORD CARRINGTON: THE OFFICIAL SOURCES SAID THEY BELIEVED CHINA AND BRITAIN +CAN SETTLE THIS QUESTION OF HONG KONG AND THE NEW TERRITORIES THROUGH FRIENDLY CONSULTATIONS. +
+WE ARE NOT OVERLY IMPATIENT TO SETTLE THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVE IT WILL SLOWLY BE SETTLED IN THE FUTURE;
+
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THEY SAID.
THEY ADDED THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE SOLUTION; THE INTERESTS OF THE INVESTORS WILL NOT BE HARMED.+
THEY NOTED THAT IT WAS STILL 16 YEARS BEFORE THE BRITISH LEASE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES: HONG KONG'S MAJOR AREA OF LAND ON THE MRINLAND: EXPIRED. ANYWAY CHINA DID NOT RECOGNISE WHAT PEKING REGARDS AS THE UNEQUAL TREATIES+ UNDER WHICH HONG KONG ITSELF WAS CEDED TO BRITAIN IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THEY SAID.
MORE IHM/MAJ/PI
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