XN000022-1984-07-10 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1984

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RICHARD LUCE TO VISIT

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THE FOLLOWING WAS ISSUED BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TODAY:

+MR RICHARD LUCE, MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, WILL PAY A VISIT TO HONG KONG BETWEEN 12 AND 14 JULY. HIS VISIT IS PART OF THE REGULAR PATTERN OF VISITS BY MINISTERS TO ENABLE THEM TO KEEP IN DIRECT TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG TO WHICH THEY ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE. WHILE HE IS IN HONG KONG, MR LUCE WILL ATTEND A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND WILL ALSO MEET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY.+

IN ANSWER TO PRESS QUESTIONS ON THE VISIT OF MR RICHARD LUCE TO HONG KONG A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN GAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

MR LUCE WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME IN HONG KONG AND THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS STAY HAVE NOT YET BEEN FINALISED. IT IS NOT, THEREFORE, KNOWN WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE.

AS STATED, HE WILL MEET EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. HE WILL ALSO ATTEND A

RECEPTION AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG IS, AS STATED, PART OF THE NORMAL SERIES OF VISITS TO THE TERRITORY BY MINISTERS.

MR LUCE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY,

MR HAYDEN WARREN-GASH, AND MR CHRISTOPHER HUM, ASSISTANT HEAD OF THE HONG KONG DEPARTMENT IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.

AS STATED BY THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY ARE CONTINUING NORMALLY.

MR LUCE WILL BE RETURNING TO LONDON AFTER HIS VISIT TO HONG KONG.

THERE ARE NO PLANS AT PRESENT FOR SIR RICHARD EVANS OR MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY TO BE IN HONG KONG DURING MR LUCE'S VISIT.

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