XN000022-1979-05-15 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1979

OUTGOING FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

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THE OUTGOING SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, DR. DAVID OWEN, HAS EXTENDED HIS BEST WISHES TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THEIR PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE FUTURE.

HE ALSO THANKED THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, PERSONALLY FOR HIS ADVICE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HIS (DR. OWEN'S) PERIOD OF OFFICE.

IN A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR, DR. OWEN SAID1

+I AM VERY SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VISIT YOU DURING MY TIME AS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY.

+I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THIS COUNTRY SHOULD DEMONSTRATE ITS RESOLVE TO LIVE UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, WHOSE LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP WE CHERISH.

+1 AM GRATEFUL TO YOU PERSONALLY FOR YOUR ADVICE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT MY PERIOD OF OFFICE. PLEASE CONVEY TO THOSE YOU ADMINISTER MY BEST WISHES FOR THEIR PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE FUTURE.+

LORD CARRINGTON SENDS GOOD WISHES TO PEOPLE OF HK

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THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, LORD CARRINGTON, HAS SENT HIS WARM GOOD WISHES TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

IN A MESSAGE FROM THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, LORD CARRINGTON SAID:

THE WELL-BEING OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES IS A MAJOR PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SHALL ALWAYS GIVE THE MOST CAREFUL ATTENTION TO YOUR INTEREST.

+1 HOPE I MAY BE ABLE TO VISIT SOME OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BEFORE TOO LONG, TO MEET YOU AND THOSE UNDER YOUR CARE.

AND

+ IN THE MEANTIME PLEASE PASS MY GOOD WISHES TO THEM AND ASSURE THEM THAT SHALL HAVE THEIR CONCERNS VERY MUCH IN MIND DURING MY PERIOD IN OFFICE.+