TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 109

EN CLAIR

PRIORITY HONG KONG то FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELNO. 614

12 SEPTEMBER 1970

UNCLASSIFIED

92

FOR NEWS DIVISION FROM INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, M.I.P.T. NEWSPAPER REPORTS INCLUDE HEADLINE QUOTE NO BRITISH ASSURANCE TO HONG KONG ON MARKET BID UNQUOTE. ANOTHER QUOTED CHANCELLOR'S REMARKS THAT HE DID NOT THINK PROBLEMS HONG KONG WOULD FACE WOULD BE TOO ALARMING. QUOTE I THINK THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL BE MADE WILL SAFEGUARD THE POSITION OF HONG KONG DURING

THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD UNQUOTE. MINISTER OBSERVED THAT HONG KONG WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY A QUOTE DEPENDENCY UNQUOTE AND THEREFORE COULD SEEK

ASSOCIATION UNDER PART FOUR OF THE TREATY. BUT HONG KONG WAS QUOTE A VERY SPECIAL CASE UNQUOTE IN VIEW OF ITS UNIQUE ECONOMIC

ACHIEVEMENT IN THE WORLD, NEARLY ALL CHINESE NEWSPAPERS GAVE

PROMINENT COVERAGE TO MINISTER'S AIRPORT ARRIVAL STATEMENT

WITHOUT COMMENT.

SIR D. TRENCH

FILES

NEWS DEPT

H.K.D.

E.I.D.

E.C.I.U.

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION U.N.D. (4)