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RECEIVE:
RESIDEN
29 NOV 1984
ET MON
OROIT
10 DOWNING STREET
Press Notice
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PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING AND HONG KONG
At the invitation of Mr Zhao Ziyang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher, (FRS, MP, will pay an official visit to Peking between 18 and
20 December. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Foreign
Secretary. The main purpose of her visit, subject to the outcome of the debate in Parliament, will be to sign the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the question of
Hong Kong. The Prime Minister will also hold talks with Chinese
leaders.
The
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary will visit Hong Kong on
20 and 21 December. They will hold discussions with the Governor and
the Executive Council and meet members of the Hong Kong Community.
Prime Minister will address a joint meeting of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
28 November 1984
NOTES FOR EDITORS
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The Prime Minister visited China and Hong Kong in 1982 (22-26 Sept- ember and 26-28 September respectively). The most recent British Ministerial visit to China and Hong Kong was by Sir Geoffrey Howe, 25 July to 2 August 1984.
After 22 rounds of talks the draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong was initialled in Peking on 26 September 1984 by the Heads of Delegations, Sir Richard Evans and Mr Zhou Nan.
On 29 November a White Paper containing the reports of the Assessment Office and independent Monitoring Team will be laid before the House and published. The Report of the Assessment Office will provide an assessment of opinion in Hong Kong on the draft Agreement. The report of the Monitors will state whether they are satisfied with the way the Assessment Office has discharged its duties.
Telephone 01-930 4433