EXCO OPENER
1.
The for Welcom
DELIGHTED TO BE BACK.
MEETING EXCO ALWAYS KEY
ELEMENT IN ANY MINISTER'S PROGRAMME: SAY HOW MUCH WE
VALUE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ADMINISTRATION OF THE
TERRITORY.
GEOFFREY HOWE BRIEFED ME IN DETAIL ON HIS
SESSION WITH YOU: I WILL GO OVER PROGRESS WE'VE MADE ON
POINTS YOU RAISED WITH HIM.
FIRST, WILL ALSO TELL YOU
ABOUT MY TALKS WITH CHINESE MINISTERS IN PEKING.
CHINA
2.
VERY ENCOURAGING MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
JOL CHIENNE
QIAN QICHEN AND VICE FOREIGN MINISTER ZHOU NAN.
CHICHEN
ON HONG KONG:
MY OVERALL VIEW WAS THAT THEIR ATTITUDE IS
REASSURING AND ENCOURAGING.
BASIC LAW WAS MAJOR THEME.
THEY SHOWED
THEMSELVES VERY READY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF
CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG, AND TO MAKE
AMENDMENTS.
AND WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSE OF LORDS
DEBATE AND LISTED THE MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN TO
HONG KONG PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN COVERED IN IT,
THEY TOOK CAREFUL NOTE (AND WE'VE FORMALLY
GIVEN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS "HANSARD").
..../2