Michilli xaron HKSD
For Peter Marshall
28703 AFP G AFP A PARIS
3.1815 VOTRE 31715 -
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COLONY 1
VOUS REPETONS DEPECHES DEMANDEES
PEKIN. JAN. 19 (AFP)- CHINA HOPES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE SO AS TO ENSURE A CONTINUED BRITISH PRESENCE WHILE NOT JEOPARDIZING ITS OWN SOVEREIGNTY, ACCORDING TO A HIGH-RANKING CHINESE DIPLOMAT.
THE DIPLOMAT, WHO ASKED NOT TO BE IDENTIFED OR TO BE QUOTED DIRECTLY, EVOKED THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFORMING HONG KONG INTO A FREE PORT.
THE CREATION OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN CHINA - AIMED AT ATTRACTING FOREIGN IVESTORS BY OFFERING ESPECIALLY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS - LESSENED HONG KONG'S VALUE IN PEKING'S EYES, THE DIPLOMAT SAID,
CHINA HAS AS YET MADE NO DECISION ON THE BRITISH COLONY, WHO LEASE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES - HE TREATER PART OF HONG KONG'S TERRITORY-- EMPIRES IN 1997, BUT WILL OPEN NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MATTER WITH BRITAIN ONE IT HAS REACHED A DECISION, THE DIPLOMAT SAID.
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HONG KONG INVESTORS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, HE ADDED.
THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE WAS DISCUSSED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH DURING A VISIT TO PEKING BY BRITAIN'S LORD
PRIVY SEAL AND DEPUTY FOREIGN SECRETARY HUMPHREY AKTINS.
MORE - AFP
COLONY 2 LAST (PEKING)
MR. ATKINS STRESSED AT THE TIME THAT CHINA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF CONFIDENCE LIKELY TO ARISE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS OVER THE FATE OF THE COLONY.
CHINA HAS FOUR SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN SHENZHEN, ZHUHAI AND SHANTOW, IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE, AND KIAMEN, IN FUJIAN
PROVINCE.
'AFP
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