CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 21080DZ JAN 83
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 104 OF 21 JANUARY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
32
MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: HKGCC SPEECH
TEXT OF FINAL 3 PARAGRAPHS IS AS FOLLOWS:-
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21 JAN1983
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Afz6/1
THE SECOND IS THAT THE SOLUTION WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF
THE INTERESTS NOT ONLY OF THE UK AND CHINA BUT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHOSE FUTURE IT IS. IN THIS CONNECTION I DO NOT THINK IT IS THE CASE THAT AS SOME SUGGEST THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOT BEING EXPRESSED OR NOT BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
SO TO SUGGEST THIS SHOWS LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY IN WHICH IN THIS TERRITORY THE VIEWS OF ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS AND THE MAN IN THE STREET ARE REFLECTED UPWARDS TO GOVERNMENT. IF PEOPLE WISH TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS PUBLIC, THE PRESS AND MEDIA ARE ALWAYS READY TO GIVE THEM SPACE. IF THEY WISH TO
CONVEY THEIR VIEWS MORE QUIETLY AND MORE DELIBERATELY, AND MANY DO, THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN LET ME REMIND THEM THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HERSELF
GAVE AN ASSURANCE TO THE DELEGATION OF UNOFFICIALS WHICH SHE SAW
IN SEPTEMBER THAT THOSE VIEWS WOULD BE REPRESENTED IN THE TALKS
IN PEKING.
THIRDLY I DO NOT THINK I HAVE TO CONVINCE THE AUDIENCE HERE
TONIGHT THAT THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS ARE BEST KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS ARE NOT DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC IN
THE MIDDLE OF STATUE SQUARE: AND INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED IF CONFIDENTIALITY CAN BE MAINTAINED.
LET ME REPEAT AND EMPHASISE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PREJUDICED
BY WHAT THEY HEAR SAID OUTSIDE THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS. OF COURSE
DIFFERENCES NEED TO BE RECONCILED. THAT IS WHAT THE TALKS ARE
FOR. I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT THEY CAN BE RECONCILED AND THAT
CONFIDENTIAL TALKS ARE THE RIGHT AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING
So.
CONFIDENTIAL
11 AM
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