TNAG-1160-FCO40-1440-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 158

Sir Yue-Kong Pao

C.B.E., LL.D., J.P.

WORLD-WIDE SHIPPING GROUP 16th Floor, World Shipping Centre Harbour City

7, Canton Road, Kowloon

Hong Kong

Tel.: 3-7327333 Telex: HX43247

The Rt. Hon. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, MP

Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London W1

ENGLAND

Dear Prime Mimity

13th August, 1982.

For your possible interest and reference, I am pleased to have had translated and enclose copies of two articles published in the latest issue of the Chinese magazine "Zheng Ming". As you will no doubt have been informed, the question of the future of Hong Kong has during the past few weeks become one of the most serious public concerns locally and to a degree is also responsible for the dramatic fall of the Hong Kong stock market. Clearly a number of previous assumptions are now being examined more closely on this issue, and it appears that confidence among the community here is indeed waning. It would, in my personal opinion, be of considerable benefit if a serious representative of the Hong Kong Government either H.E. The Governor or the Chief Secretary, be seen to be involved during your visit to China. I of course appreciate the complexities involved in your selection of the personnel who will accompany you but do believe that a presence from Hong Kong would be most opportune.

>

In light of the intense preoccupation of the people of Hong Kong now with the year 1997, and the importance attached to your visit to Beijing next month, it is very much hoped that the results of your discussions will at least allow an announcement that the United Kingdom and the People's Republic are both agreed on the importance Hong Kong has for both countries, and that they will cooperate in doing everything possible to preserve the economic stability of Hong Kong and to assure its potential for growth, while both Governments continue during the next few years to negotiate the de- tailed legal and technical questions involved in Hong Kong's future. This might help to alleviate some of the

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