GR 350
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HRK
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 30045OZ MAR 84
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 861 OF 30 MARCH
02712
-2 APR 1984
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, BRUSSELS,
UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, CG NEW YORK
FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
HKG/GT/55: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGCO QUESTION.
1. THE HON. ALLEN LEE ASKED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 28 MARCH:
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(A
5/5 vestitle THE 30/3
**WILL THE GOVERNMENT INVITE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS TO VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE AS WELL AS AFTER HIS IMPENDING VISIT TO CHINA?'*
BACKGROUND
2. YOU WILL BE AWARE FROM THE DAILY PRESS TELEGRAMS THAT UNOFFICIALS CONSIDER IT DESIRABLE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE HE VISITS PEKING SO AS TO INFORM HIMSELF OF THE STATE OF OPINION AT FIRST HAND.
LINE TO TAKE
3. YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE TEXT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPLY TO MR LEE'S QUESTION WHICH WAS AS FOLLOWS:
''SIR, AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 22 MARCH THAT HE WOULD BE VISITING CHINA IN MID-APRIL FOR TALKS ON HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS. HE SAID THAT FROM THERE HE WOULD TRAVEL ON TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, AND THAT HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS. SIR GEOFFREY IS AWARE THAT HE IS WELCOME IN HONG KONG AT ANY TIME BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT HIS OTHER COMMITMENTS WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TO VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE HE VISITS PEKING. NEVERTHELESS, HE STRESSED IN HIS STATEMENT ON 22 MARCH THE IMPORTANCE HE ATTACHES TO KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG. HE REFERRED IN PARTICULAR TO THE VISIT WHICH THE MINISTER OF STATE HAD MADE TO HONG KONG ONLY A MONTH AGO AND TO THE WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS WHICH HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO HIM ON THAT VISIT. IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF VISITS TO LONDON BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SINCE THE
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/TALKS