GPS 350
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTES
FM HONG KONG 300845Z SEP 83
TO PRIORITY BRUSSELS
TELEGRAM NUMBER 12 OF 30 SEPTEMBER
HKK
027/20
RECEIVED IN REGSP me $1
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, FC3, WOCHTN883N
CG NEW YORK, UKMIS GENEVA
FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES.
RK OPFLA
INDEX
REF: HKG/GT/37
SUBJECT: THE FUTURE: VISHT OF MR R. LUCE MP.
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THE MINISTER OF STATE, FCO, MR RICHARD LUCE VISITED HONG KONG
FROM 24 TO 28 SEPTEMBER. THE VISIT HAD BEEN PLANNED SOME TIME AGO
AND THE FACT THAT IT COINCIDED WITH THE END OF THE LATEST ROUND
OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE WAS ENTIRELY FORTUITOUS. MR LUCE
UNDERTOOK AN HINTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF VISITS AND MEETINGS WITH
THE AIM OF MEETING A BROAD SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND HEARING
OPINIONS. HIS PROGRAMME HINCLUDED MEETINGS WITH EXCO, UMELCO, URBCO, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, THE HEUNG YEE KUK, COMMUNITY LEADERS, ACADEMICS, BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRIALISTS.
LINE TO TAKE
2. YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE TRANSCRIPTS OF MR LUCE'S PRESS CONFERENCE
ALREADY FORWARDED TO YOU. THE FOLLOWING POINTS DESERVE EMPHASIS:
A. BRITAIN REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO THE OBJECTIVE OF AIMING FOR A SOLUTION WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, ΤΟ THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
B. BRITAIN AIMS TO PRESERVE AND DEVELOP ALL THAT HAS BEEN SO
SUCCESSFULLY BUILT UP IN HONG KONG.
C. THE TALKS MAY TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE AND THERE MAY BE **TURBULENCE' ON THE WAY, BUT NO ONE SHOULD DOUBT THE
DETERMINATION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO SUCCEED. FAILURE WOULD
BE HN NOBODY'S MNTERESTS.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE BRITISH POSITION
ARE ''UNHELPFUL AND SAD''. NEGOTHATHON IN PUBLIC (''MEGAPHONG
DIPLOMACY**) CAN ONLY ENDANGER THE PROSPECTS OF A SUCCESSFUL
SOLUTION.
E. AS A FURTHER STEP IN THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL VISIT LONDON FROM 6-8 OCTOBER AND WILL MEET THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR LUCE. YOUDE
MINIMAL
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COPIES
H.K. GOV OFFICE
LONDON
101