ARS 850
KESTRICTED
copy on Circulars to HKG offices abrocal.
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 2187552 MAR 83
TV ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 5 OF 21 MARCH
25
(DOS DOL
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, BRUSSELS AND WASHINGTON
HKK 040/2
FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
REAL BETA JOTECT YERİ T
OUR REF: HKG/GT/8 OF 31 JANUARY
HK/GT/16 FUTURE OF HONG KONG
22 MAR 1983
ни
SINCE THE LAST GUIDANCE REPORT OF THE 31 JANUARY THE FOLLOWING RELEASES, SPEECHES OR BACKGROUND UNATTRIBUTATELE PRESS BRIEFINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
SOURCE. THE GOVERNOR LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE BROADCAST ON TV AND RADIO ON SUNDAY, 13 FEBRUARY.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD THIS YEAR, IT IS NATURAL THAT OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD TURN TO THE MORE DISTANT FUTURE TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997. THIS IS UPPERMOST IN ALL OUR MINDS AND THERE IS A VERY NATURAL WISH TO BE REASSURED ON AN ISSUE SO FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. THOSE OF US WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG KNOW FULL WELL WHAT IS IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS NOT EASY TO BE PATIENT WHILST THE TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE. ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT SAY VERY MUCH ABOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS IN PUBLIC. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE VOICE OF HONG KONG HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HEARD IN THE NEGOTIATING CHAMBER. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE COMPLEX ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED AND DIFFERENCES TO BE RECONCILED.
I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT AN AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED WHICH WILL RECONCILE THOSE DIFFERENCES AND WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE GREAT NATIONS OF CHINA AND BRITAIN AND WELCOMED HERE.
2. HONG KONG HAS PROSPERED BECAUSE OF ITS REMARKABLE PEOPLE, AND BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE SERVED IT SO WELL, THESE HAVE
GIVEN IT A STRENGTH ON WHICH IT CAN CONTINUE TO RELY. LET US
THEREFORE DURING THE COMING YEAR GO ABOUT OUR DAILY TASKS WITH
CONFIDENCE IN CURSELVES AND IN OUR FUTURE.
SOURCE: FINANCIAL SECRETARY
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DUDGET SPEECH,
23 FEBRUARY 1983.
QUOTE THIRDLY WE HAVE SUFFERED FROM POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY. THIS
MAY BE INEVITABLE WHILE OUR LONG-TERIT FUTURE IS UNDER DISCUSSION.
BUT WE HAVE A CLEAR COMMITMENT DY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS
ENDORSED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF
THIS TERRIRTORY. THAT DOES NOT SEEN TO KE TO BE DEPRESSING. THE
UNCERTAINTY AND THE SPATE OF COMMENTARIES AND RUMOURS WHICH WE
HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE NEVERTHELESS HAD
RESTRICTED
/ AN