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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
+THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE PRESS AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT THIS MOTION. AS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT. IT IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION, PROPERLY CONSTITUTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDING ORDERS OF THIS COUNCIL. IT DOES NOT SEEK TO BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS BY SEEKING DETAILED INFORMATION NOW ABOUT THEIR CONTENT AND PROGRESS. NOR DOES IT SEEK TO LAY
N IN ADVANCE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE. WHAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE SEEKING, THROUGH THIS MOTION, IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
+ I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY THERE SHOULD BE ANY QUARREL WITH THAT PROPOSITION. IT IS FULLY ACCEPTED THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE TALKS IN PEKING IS A MATTER FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, BRITISH MINISTERS HAVE REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT. THEY HAVE ALSO FORMALLY STATED THAT THE IR AIM IS TO SEEK A SETTLEMENT WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION YOU, SIR, AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAVE VISITED LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND OTHER MINISTERS THREE TIMES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS- AND MINISTERS HAVE REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL INFORMED AND TO RECEIVING ITS ADVICE.
+DURING THESE VISITS TO LONDON, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE IR VIEWS, AND THOSE OF THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DIRECTLY KNOWN TO BRITISH MINISTERS. THEY HAVE DONE SO AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF WIDE AND INTENSE PUBLIC DEBATE ON MANY ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE, AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPINIONS AND CONCERNS CONVEYED TO THEM BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGH THE MANY CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM. THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FORE IGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAS ALSO VISITED HONG KONG TWICE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO HEAR AT FIRST HAND THE VIEWS OF A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE. AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF HOPES TO VISIT HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
/+TOIRE CAN