MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1983
MESSAGES FROM SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND RICHARD LUCE
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THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAVE SENT PERSONAL MESSAGES TO THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
IN THEIR MESSAGES THEY REAFFIRM HMG'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG, AND TO SEEKING A SOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT SUCH A SOLUTION CAN BE ACHIEVED. THE TWO MINISTERS LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO.
SIR GEOFFREY HOWE SAID +ON ASSUMING OFFICE AS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, I SHOULD LIKE TO REAFFIRM TO YOU AND YOUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND TO WORKING FOR THE TERRITORY'S CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND THE WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE. I KNOW HOW VITAL THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. OUR AIM REMAINS TO SEEK A SOLUTION WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE NOT ONLY TO THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS BUT ALSO TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+1 AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE IT, I HOPE THAT I SHALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE. KIND REGARDS+.
MR RICHARD LUCE SAID IN HIS MESSAGE +THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE ON SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG AS PART OF MY DUTIES. I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED BY THIS AS I HAVE LONG ADMIRED HONG KONG'S VITALITY AND ACHIEVEMENTS. I REALISE THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME IN HONG KONG'S HISTORY AND ASSURE YOU AND YOUR EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS THAT WE SHALL GO ON WORKING FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WHICH WOULD PRESERVE THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND HOPE THAT I SHALL HAVE AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY FOR A VISIT. KIND REGARDS.+
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