RESTRICTED
WERE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE DEAL FOR THEMSELVES AND, IN THE PROCESS, FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. CHINA HAD REALISED THAT HOWEVER MUCH EMPHASIS IT PLACED ON REGAINING SOVEREIGNTY, THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT IN HONG KONG FOR AN ASSURANCE OF STABILITY AND CONTINUITY AND NO-ONE COULD PREDICT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT WAS REMOVED.
3. IN THE CONTEXT OF HONG KONG'S NEED FOR A GUARANTEE OF CONTINUITY, THE JOHN KESWICK MEMORIAL ADDRESS, GIVEN BY LORD MACLEHOSE,
ALSO ATTRACTED PROMINENT COVERAGE IN THE LOCAL PRESS. HIS REFERENCE TO THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ANY AGREEMENT REACHED WAS MADE TO STICK WAS THE MAJOR POINT SINGLED OUT FOR COVERAGE.
YOUDE
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
TU LURE OF BONG KÔNG
THEMEUREND
ED/HKGD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
ME GIFFARD
MR DONALD
2 RESTRICTED
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST. SIR A PARSONS NO 10 DOWNING HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE,
LONDON
ST.