AKK ovoli
ομο
RECEIVED IN RESDIY NO. 51
OS APRIPUI
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
GR 220
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Awblu
1 Also of HICK 02612
Mr. Juar
Pl, nahe one this
is entered
PA
100
78
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 3102COZ
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 313 OF 30 MARCH
INFO PEKING.
COLONY LONG-TERM FUTURE.
FOR FENN FROM NEWS DEPARTMENT.
че
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
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.