THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982
PUBLIC TO BE KEPT POSTED ON TALKS 'WHERE POSSIBLE'
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STATEMENTS ON DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WILL BE RELEASED +WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WHICH CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS, OR ABOUT HONG KONG PARTICIPATION IN THEM+.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, GAVE THIS ASSURANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS.
+ IF THE TIMING PERMITS, THESE STATEMENTS WILL TAKE THE FORM OF PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THIS CHAMBER, HE SAID, ADDING THAT HE AGREED WITH THE HON BILL BROWN THAT THE COUNCIL WAS THE CORRECT AND PROPER PLACE FOR DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT THE FUTURE TO BE MADE KNOWN PUBLICLY.
SIR PHILIP WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE RESTRAINT SHOWN BY MEMBERS IN RECOGNISING THAT THE TALKS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. THEY HAD, HE SAID, SPOKEN WITH A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, REALISING THAT IT WAS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
+AS MEMBERS BRING TO THIS COUNCIL A PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONCERNS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY, I CAN ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR ADVICE WILL NOT GO UNHEEDED, HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS THAT IT WOULD BE THE CONSTANT ENDEAVOUR OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERESTS AND WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+MEANWHILE, NOTHING IS TO BE GAINED BY AN UNMERITED CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE, PARTICULARLY IF THE CAUSATIVE FACTORS ARE SPECULATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF PERSONAL VIEWS.+
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THEY READ AND HEAR, HE WARNED. THE ALMOST DAILY HEARSAY STORIES IN THE PRESS ABOUT WHAT THE POSITION OF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER MIGHT BE SOMETIMES HAD MUCH CIRCUMSTANTIAL DETAIL.
+SUCH STORIES HAVE AN UNSETTLING EFFECT EVEN THOUGH ON OCCASIONS THEY HAVE NO BASIS IN FACT, HE SAID. RUMOUR SO OFTEN FEEDS ON ITSELF, HE ADDED, AND WE MUST NOT ALLOW THAT CONTAGION TO SPREAD.
IT WAS WORTH BEARING IN MIND THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN'S ADVICE THAT 'THE ONLY TRUE INFORMATION WILL BE THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE FROM TIME TO TIME ARISING FROM THE OFFICIAL SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON OUR FUTURE'.
SIR PHILIP BELIEVED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD LOOK AT THE SITUATION AS IT UNFOLDS IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT.
NO-ONE, HE SAID, SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DECLARED COMMON OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AS STATED IN THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER PRIME MINISTER THATCHER'S MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING.
/HE REITERATED