DD 03010OZ HONG KONG
GRS 529
CONFIDENTIAL
FUTURE EGRET
CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET
rop copy
19
HKK 040/57
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
O 5 NOV 1984
DESKBY 030100Z
DESK OFFICER
REG.STRY
FM FCO 021720Z NOVEMBER 84
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
14643 1
J
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2171.
AND TO PEKING DESKBY 030100Z
FUTURE EGRET: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT
1. WE HAVE UST SEEN A DRAFT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH ON
THE ADDRESS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER, IN
WHICH SHE PROPOSES TO ANNOUNCE HER INTENTION OF GOING TO PEKING
TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT. THE TEXT IN QUESTION READS AS FOLLOWS:
' MR SPEAKER, I TURN TO HONG KONG.
THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG IS ANOTHER CONSIDERABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, INITIALLED IN PEKING ON 26
SEPTEMBER, IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DETERMINATION AND POLITICAL
WILL CAN RESOLVE DIFFICULT INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.
THROUGHOUT THE LONG PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION, THIS
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE CLEAR BEYOND DOUBT THAT THE AGREEMENT
MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, AS WELL AS
PARLIAMENT AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOW EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS.
THE REPORTS OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, WHICH WILL COLLECT
THOSE VIEWS, AND OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING TEAM, WILL BE
PUBLISHED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
PARLIAMENT WILL THEN HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE THE AGREEMENT
FULL AND PROPER CONSIDERATION. WE AIM, IF PARLIAMENT
APPROVES, TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
PROPOSE TO GO TO PEKING FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I HAVE NO HESITATION IN SAYING THAT THE AGREEMENT IS A
GOOD ONE. IT MEETS THE OBECTIVES WE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE.
IT PROVIDES A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUING
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
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CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET