XN000022-1984-09-20 — Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1984

MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER

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TEXT OF A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1984 AT 10 DOWNING STREET:

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY THIS EVENING HAD A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG. THE MINISTER OF STATE FCO, MR RICHARD LUCE, WAS ALSO PRESENT.

THIS WAS THE FIFTH VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE UNOFFICIALS SINCE JULY 1983.

THIS MEETING TOOK PLACE ON THE EVE OF CONSIDERATION BY THE CABINET OF THE DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION BY THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG.

THE MEETING HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT TEXT WHICH BRITISH AND CHINESE NEGOTIATORS IN PEKING HAD NOW REFERRED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION. THIS RESULTED IN A FULL IDENTITY OF VIEWS.

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS THROUGHOUT BEEN FULLY CONSULTED AND INFORMED ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.

HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT PLACE ON RECORD THEIR RECOGNITION OF THE VALUABLE PART WHICH THE CLOSE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN MINISTERS AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG HAVE PLAYED THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE SAME CLOSE CONSULTATIONS WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY EXPRESSED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFICULT ROLE WHICH THE UNOFFICIALS HAD HAD TO PLAY IN ADVISING MINISTERS AND THE GOVERNOR DURING THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS. THEY REITERATED THEIR ADMIRATION FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THE UNOFFICIALS HAD FULFILLED THIS ROLE AND FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY HAD STRONGLY REPRESENTED THE VIEWS AND INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AT ALL TIMES.

GOVERNOR, EXCO TEAM RETURNING TOMORROW

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL RETURN FROM LONDON TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THEY WILL BE ARRIVING ON FLIGHT BR 382, ETA 6.10 PM.

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