}
ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN OBVIOUS TO ME THIS WEEK IS THE CONCERN IN EVERYONE'S MINDS ABOUT THE FUTURE. IT IS IMMENSELY HELPFUL TO ME TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE VIEWS OF SO MANY PEOPLE ON
THIS VITAL QUESTION. FOR MY PART I SHOULD LIKE TO REITERATE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER VISITED PEKING IN SEPTEMBER, SHE AND THE CHINESE LEADERS
AGREED TO ENTER TALKS WITH THE COMMON AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS PHRASE RATHER A LOT RECENTLY, BUT DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
ITS IMPORTANCE.
WE INTEND TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THE TALKS. THERE IS NO SET
TIME TABLE FOR THEM AND AS THE PRIME MINISTER INDICATED IN SEPTEMBER THEIR CONTENTS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
FINALLY TWO THINGS, FIRST, IT IS THE TALKS THAT COUNT AND WE MUST NOT DE PREJUDICED BY ANYTHING SAID OUTSIDE THEM. SECOND, WE MUST SEEK A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, TO CHINA AND TO BRITAIN. WE ARE SUPPORTED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT
OUR RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC ARE EXCELLENT. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE
FOR ALL THREE SIDES WE SHALL FAIL TO FIND AN OUTCOME ACCEPTABLE TO ALL.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR
MR ROBERTS
MR COLES
MR MARTIN
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
PS/MRHURD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
HK & GD
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/FED
ED/PUSD
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
SIR JBULLARD
2
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