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DD 24010OZ HONG KONG
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CONFIDENTIAL
FUTURE EGRET
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HKK
040/57
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DESKBY 240100,2
, Ꮓ
FM FCO 231800Z NOV 84
INDEA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2340 OF 23 NOVEMBER
FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
(119
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26 NOV 1934
FICER
PA
TAR
2015
YOUR TELNOS 3571-2: PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH IN HONG KONG
meton laken
$
1.
MANY THANKS FOR THE DRAFT IN THE SECOND TUR. WE THINK THIS
A GOOD WORKING BASIS.
2. OUR ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH IN
HONG KONG WAS THAT IT SHOULD BE A 'MAJOR SPEECH ON HONG KONG'S
FUTURE, AND ON ITS PROSPECTS AS A BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CENTRE.' (OUR TELNO 1385 TO PEKING, PARA 5(B)). WE HAD IN MIND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD GO BEYOND A HONG KONG AUDIENCE TO TELL THE WORLD FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THE TERRITORY IS'
VERY MUCH IN BUSINESS, AND THAT THE AGREEMENT GIVES IT THE
POTENTIAL TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
IT WAS IN THESE TERMS THAT WE MADE OUR RECOMMENDATION TO NUMBER
10 DOWNING STREET.
3.
NOW THAT THE SPEECH IS TO BE MADE TO A JOINT MEETING OF
EXCO AND LEGCO WE ACCEPT THAT IT WILL NEED TO DEAL MORE
DIRECTLY WITH THE AGREEMENT. THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF
SPECIFIC POINTS TO EMPHASISE TO A HONG KONG AUDIENCE, AND IF I MAY
SAY SO YOUR DRAFT DOES THIS VERY SKILFULLY. BUT I THINK IT
WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO AVOID TOO MUCH OVERLAP WITH THE SPEECHES
IN PEKING, ONE OF WHICH WILL BE ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO THE
AGREEMENT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
4. OUR INCLINATION IS THEREFORE TO COMPRESS THE MATERIAL IN
YOUR DRAFT A LITTLE AND ADD MATERIAL WHICH
BESIDES INCLUDING A STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
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