WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1984
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HK GROUP MEETS PRIME MINISTER
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ALL 11 MEMBERS OF UMELCO VISITING LONDON, AND THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, MET THIS MORNING (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. ALSO PRESENT WERE THE MINISTER AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, DR DAVID WILSON, THE HEAD OF THE HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, MR ANTHONY GALSWORTHY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS.
AFTERWARDS THE GROUP MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,
MRS MARGARET THATCHER, AT DOWNING STREET. AFTER THE MEETING, WHICH WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPECIAL ADVISER ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SIR PERCY CRADOCK, THE FOLLOWING PRESS STATEMENT WAS ISSUED:
+A DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS OF HONG KONG, LED BY SIR S.Y. CHUNG ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON THE PRIME MINISTER THIS MORNING. THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND MR LUCE WERE PRESENT.
THE DELEGATION TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AS REFLECTED IN THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON NOVEMBER 29.
THE PRIME MINISTER THANKED THE DELEGATION FOR THE ENDORSEMENT WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE DRAFT AGREEMENT. SHE STATED THAT THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ITSELF AND IN ITS FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THE PRIME MINISTER EMPHASISED THE WHOLEHEARTED COMMITMENT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO THE AGREEMENT AND ITS RESOLVE TO FULFIL ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997, SO AS TO ASSURE THE CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY.+
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