TNAG-1025-FCO40-1275-Visit-by-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1981 — Page 18

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

AKK

АКК оно

RECEIVED IN ACOSIRY NO. 51

OCAIRILI

OECK OFFICER

INDEX

GR 220

RESTRICTED

DESKBY 31020OZ

Original at: HKK ouoll This Copy for:

Information only / Action on

Mr. Jean

PA

REGISTRY ACHOR TAKEN R

CYED

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

Antu

TELEGRAM NUMBER 313 OF 30 MARCH

INFO PEKING.

COLONY LONG-TERM FUTURE.

A. nahe one this

make

is entered

!

PIA

ACK 026/2

RECEVYYS IN RESISTRY NO. 51 13 APR 1901

"b2c"

FOR FENN FROM NEWS DEPARTMENT.

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Takshi

COLCHESTER, FINANCIAL TIMES HAS REPORTED THAT THE NEWS SUMMARY PIECE WAS CONDENSED FROM THE REUTERS TAPE OUT OF HONG KONG. AS

RECEIVED HERE IT READ

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY, LORD CARRINGTON, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG TODAY SAYING HE WAS VERY REASSURED BY INDICATIONS OF CHINESE POLICY ABOUT THE BRITISH COLONY'S LONG-TERM FUTURE.

AN INCREASINGLY VOCAL MINORITY OF BUSINESSMEN, BANKERS AND ACADEMICS HERE HAVE BEEN URGING THAT THE ISSUE BE RESOLVED WITH PEKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

CHINA HAS NEVER RECOGNISED THE VALIDITY OF BRITAIN'S LEASE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES AREA WHICH COMPRISES NINE-TENTHS OF THE COLONY.

LORD CARRINGTON TOLD REPORTERS ON THE PLANE TAKING HIM FROM ISLAMABAD TO HONG KONG THAT ANXIETY OVER THE FUTURE WAS NATURAL.

BUT HE ADDED: QUOTE BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH CHINA HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER AND THE CHINESE HAVE MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THEY WANT A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG UNQUOTE.

HE ALSO QUOTED CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY VICE-CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING AS SAYING TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD PUT THEIR HEARTS AT EASE.

QUOTE ALL THESE, I THINK, ARE VERY REASSURING SIGNS, UNQUOTE HE

SAID.

RESTRICTED

/LORD CARRINGTON

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