TNAG-0742-FCO40-946-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 204

TELEPHONE:

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The Lord Greenhill of Harrow GCMG OBE

See 53

REC

Confidential

HKK 02/6

Ret. D

INDEX

2 MAY 1978

USHÇER

PA

ль тат Dear Donald.

30, GRESHAM STREET,

LONDON, EC2P 2EB

28th April 1978

HUGD

is

Clet

for drift reply

concert with FE

is add a

46

sentence or two

of comment to the ack.)

Since Lord Roll's visit to China we have been

in increasing touch with the Bank of China in London and the following extract from the record of a meeting by one of our people with some of their senior management may be of interest :

G

Дви 57-

"We also discussed the future of Hong Kong and they understand that it is difficult for businessmen living outside the colony to appreciate China's recent positive indications regarding the continuance of the present system after 1997. They expect that various comments will be made, (and hopefully correctly interpreted by foreigners) by their Government. They point to the Mass Transit Railway and its long- term nature and would expect that British businessmen understand that this means security for their investments in the future. The high price of land and Government's policy on this subject is also an impediment to further investments.".

I am enclosing a copy to pass on to the Governor whose recent talk to the Royal Society for Asian Affairs was greatly appreciated.

Yours ever

Denis

D. F. Murray, Esq., CMG Superintending Under Secretary, Hong Kong & General Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH.