GR 360
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 290358Z JAN 83
TOP COPY
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELEGRAM NUMBER 157 OF 29 JANUARY
AND TO ROUTINE BRUSSELS, GENEVA AND WASHINGTON
INFO F C O (FOR HKGD)
FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
HKG/GT/8
THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
A. PRESENT POSITION
никочо
040/1
"
3 1 JAN 1983
DESK OFFICIEL
PA
in
INDEX
AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING BOTH GOVERNMENTS
ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT:
''TODAY THE LEADERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES HELD FAR-REACHING TALKS
IN A (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE ON THE FUTURE
OF HONG KONG. BOTH SIDES MADE CLEAR THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS
ON THIS SUBJECT. THEY AGREED TO ENTER INTO TALKS THROUGH
DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS FOLLOWING THE VISIT, WITH THE (NEXT WORD
UNDERLINED) COMMON AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND
PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG''.
(NOTE: THE UNDERLINING IS NOT PART OF THE JOINT STATEMENT).
2. IN HIS ADDRESS ON 6 OCTOBER TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT MEETINGS IN PEKING TO FOLLOW-UP MRS.
THATCHER'S VISIT HAD BEGUN.
3. THE GOVERNOR ALSO REFERRED TO THE FUTURE IN A SPEECH
DELIVERED ON 21 JANUARY TO THE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
B. LINE TO TAKE
1) ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN THE
SUCCESS OF THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE. YOU SHOULD STRESS THAT
THE LEADERS OF BOTH THE UK AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED
THAT THE COMMON AIM IS TO MAINTAIN FUTURE PROSPERITY OF THE
TERRITORY. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN TO CHANGE THAT AIM.
2) THE SOLUTION WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE INTERESTS NOT
ONLY OF THE UK AND CHINA BUT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. YOU
SHOULD COUNTER ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG ARE NOT BEING EXPRESSED OR NOT BEING TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT. IF PEOPLE WISH TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS PUBLIC THE PRESS
AND MEDIA ARE ALWAYS READY TO GIVE THEM SPACE. IF THEY WISH TU
CONVEY THEIR VIEWS MORE QUIETLY THERE ARE NUMEROUS OFFICIAL
CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM.
CONFIDENTIAL
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