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cc: PS/PUS
Mr Donald
Mr Ure
PS/Lord Belstead
Jultras
LETTER FROM THE RT HON DAVID OWEN MP:
PROBLEM
HRRoy0/1
22 MAR 1983
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A824131
HONG KONG
FLAG A
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1. To reply to a letter of 9 March to the Secretary of State from Dr Owen asking how the Secretary of State proposes to
associate the people of Hong Kong more closely with the
negotiations with the Chinese, and for an indication of when
Mr Pym will report to Parliament on the progress of the
negotiations.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State reply along the
lines of the attached draft.
BACKGROUND
3. Regular consultations between HMG and the Hong Kong
Government on the future have been taking place since last September. During visits to Hong Kong by the Prime Minister and
Lord Belstead last year, it was made clear that the views of the
people of Hong Kong will be fully taken into account in the talks. It has been agreed that the Governor should be consulted and should participate personally as and when necessary in the
talks as should other Hong Kong representatives. It has also
been agreed that the Governor should brief EXCO on developments
and keep them clearly in the picture. He himself has stressed
that all channels are open for the people of Hong Kong to make
their views known.
4.
Under the last Labour Administration, procedures were
instituted by Dr Owen to encourage participation by the inhabitants
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