MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1984
HK GROUP CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF A STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS OFFICE THIS (MONDAY) EVENINGS
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CALLED ON THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, AT HER OFFICIAL RESIDENCE IN DOWNING STREET THIS MORNING.
A STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS OFFICE AFTER THE MEETING SAID: THE PRIME MINISTER MET THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 16. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND MR RICHARD LUCE WERE ALSO PRESENT AS WERE SIR RICHARD EVANS WHO WILL SHORTLY BE TAKING UP HIS APPOINTMENT AS HM AMBASSADOR IN PEKING AND SIR PERCY CRADOCK. THE PROGRAMME FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO INCLUDES SEPARATE CALLS ON SIR GEOFFREY AND MR LUCE.
+THIS WAS THE THIRD VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIALS SINCE JULY 1983. MINISTERS REAFFIRMED HMG'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND TO THE SEARCH FOR A SETTLEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO PARLIAMENT, TO CHINA AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+AS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TALKS. IT PRODUCED A CLOSE IDENTITY OF VIEWS ON MATTERS INVOLVED.
+THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY CONTINUE TO ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FULLY INFORMED AND TO RECEIVING THEIR ADVICE. THE GOVERNOR AND UNOFFICIALS EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THIS FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PRIME MINISTER AND HER COLLEAGUES AND FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT,+
MR RICHARD LUCE, THE FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, LATER HOSTED A LUNCH FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
TOMORROW, THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET MR LUCE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
QUARTERLY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STABLE AT 4.1 PER CENT
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THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION CONTINUED TO STABILISE, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER 1983 WAS 4.1 PER CENT, THE SAME AS THAT RECORDED FOR THE QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER.
THE RATE FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING AUGUST 1983 WAS 3.7 PER CENT, AND THAT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 1982 WAS 3.9 PER CENT.
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