SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1983
GOVERNOR REPLIES TO SIR GEOFFREY AND MR LUCE
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE HAS RESPONDED ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS TO THE PERSONAL MESSAGES RECEIVED FROM THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND THE MINISTER OF STATE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE.
IN THEIR MESSAGES, SIR GEOFFREY AND MR LUCE REAFFIRMED HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'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.
SIR EDWARD HAS DESPATCHED THE FOLLOWING REPLIES:
+MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE RT HONOURABLE SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, QC, MP, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS 1
THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE ASKED ME TO CONVEY THE IR THANKS TO YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE, AND TO OFFER THEIR CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY. IN PARTICULAR THEY WELCOME YOUR REAFFIRMATION OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG, AND TO SEEKING A SOLUTION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS WELL AS TO THE TWO GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE ASKED ME TO ASSURE YOU THAT THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, AND TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG WHILE THE TALKS CONTINUE.
THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE ALSO ASKED ME TO SAY THAT THEY ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU, AS I AM, WHEN THEY VISIT LONDON EARLY NEXT MONTH.
+MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR TO MR RICHARD LUCE, MP, MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE=
I HAVE CONVEYED YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. IN WELCOMING YOU TO YOUR NEW POST, THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. THEY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND WORKING WITH YOU.+
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