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FM SINGAPORE
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 316
OF 06060OZ JULY 89
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
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Mico 301/1 Мно
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077311
MDHIAN 2143
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MIPT
TEXT OF PROPOSED LETTER TO THE EDITORS OF THE 'STRAITS TIMES' AND 'BUSINESS TIMES' READS AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS.
I AM SURE THAT SINGAPOREANS WILL HAVE READ THE REPORTS FROM YOUR HONG KONG CORRESPONDENTS ON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE'S RECENT VISIT TO THE TERRITORY WITH GREAT INTEREST.
I HAVE NO QUARREL WITH THEIR OVERALL CONTENT BUT AM CONCERNED THAT, PERHAPS FOR REASONS OF SPACE, INSUFFICIENT EMPHASIS HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH BRITAIN HAS TAKEN ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGED MOOD IN HONG KONG IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT APPALLING EVENTS IN CHINA, AND INTENDS TO MODIFY ITS PREVIOUS APPROACH ACCORDINGLY.
SIR GEOFREY HOWE SPELT OUT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS IN DETAIL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG ON 4 JULY. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE RETURNING TO LONDON WITH SEVEN POINTS PARTICULARLY IN MIND. FIRST, HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT, ON THE QUESTION OF NATIONALITY, BRITAIN INTENDED TO MAKE AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON A SCHEME WHICH WOULD MAKE SOME PROVISION FOR PEOPLE IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS ON THE BASIS NOT SIMPLY OF THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH BRITAIN, BUT ALSO OF THE VALUE OF THEIR SERVICE TO HONG KONG. THE SCHEME'S OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE CONFIDENCE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG, NOT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO LEAVE.
SECOND, HE RECALLED THAT HE HAD ALERTED BRITAIN'S EUROPEAN COMMUNITY PARTNERS AT THE MADRID SUMMIT ON 26/27 JUNE TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH HONG KONG FACED AND THE NEED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RALLY ROUND THE TERRITORY. SINCE HIS ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG, HE HAD ALSO BEEN IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SIX OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN NEXT WEEK'S ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN PARIS. BRITAIN WOULD CONTINUE
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