XN000022-1984-05-10 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1984

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BRITAIN AWARE OF HONG KONG CONCERNS GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING HE IS CONFIDENT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL SHOW THEMSELVES TO BE FULLY ALIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG DURING THE DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM PEKING, SIR EDWARD SAID ALTHOUGH HE WILL NOT BE PRESENT AT THE DEBATE, HE IS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE AN EARLY HANSARD WHICH WILL ENABLE HIM TO STUDY IT CAREFULLY.

HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ASKED BY JOURNALISTS IN PEKING ABOUT THE STATEMENT MADE BY UMELCO MEMBERS.

I HAVE EMPHASISED THAT THAT WAS A UMELCO STATEMENT, AND IT IS. OF COURSE FOR UMELCO MEMBERS RATHER THAN FOR ME TO COMMENT ON IT, HE SAID.

+AS I READ IT, IT WAS INTENDED TO VOICE ANXIETIES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TO THEM IN HONG KONG, BUT WAS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO CAST ANY DOUBT ON THE NEED FOR AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ON. THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.+

THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WAS NOTHING VERY SURPRISING IN THE FACT THAT HE HAD COME BACK TO HONG KONG A LITTLE EARLY THIS TIME.

+IT IS SIMPLY THAT I HAVE TO GO OFF TO LONDON ON SATURDAY MORNING. THE FLIGHT TOMORROW DOESN'T ARRIVE TILL THE AFTERNOON, AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN ME THE WORKING DAY NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR MY DEPARTURE FOR LONDON, HE SAID.

+1 SHALL BE AWAY FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND WHILE I AM IN LONDON, I SHALL BE CALLING ON THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.

+BUT I SHAN'T BE SPENDING ALL MY TIME THERE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A SHORT BREAK.

+BUT I WILL BE BACK IN TIME FOR THE 15TH ROUND WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS ON THE 30TH AND 31ST.

+ AND I AM EXPECTING THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO BE OUR USUAL BUSINESS-LIKE DISCUSSIONS, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.

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