GPS250
SECRET
DESK BY FCO 3012OOZ
DESKBY PEKING 010200Z
SECRET
3
FM HONG KONG 30095OZ SEP 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1451 OF 30 SEPTEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TOP COPY
1.HKK 013/1
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SPEECH.
RECEIVED IN BEGISTRY.
RRIVES OCT 1983.j
DESK OFFICER
HUIRY.
Action Taken
INDEX
D
(2.)
1. SES MIFT: FOLLOWING 4S TEXT OF DRAFT PASSAGE.
THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE IMAORTA HSSUE FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT THAN THE SEARCH FOR A SETTLEMENT OF THE FUTURE OF THIS TERRITORY WHICH WILL SECURE ITS LONG TERM STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THAT SEARCH WILL REMAIN OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY IN THE COMING MONTHS. THE AIM OF H.M.G. HAS STATED IN THE WORDS OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH, REMAINS THAT OF REACHING A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM PARLIAMENT, TO CHINA AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
OUR CONSULTATIONS WITH HMG ON THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS AND INTENSIVE AND MINISTERS IN LONDON, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER HERSELF, HAVE EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION. UNOFFICIALS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WERE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN DIRECTLY TO BRITISH MINISTERS WHEN THEY WISTED LONDON IN JULY: THE MINISTER OF STATE, MR LUCE, HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH A WIDE CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE DURING HIS RECENT VISHT HERE. AS MEMBERS KNOW, #SHALL BE LEAVING TONIGHT WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR FURTHER TALKS.
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL UNDERSTAND WHY, AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY MORE ON THIS ISSUE IN THIS ADDRESS. GIVEN TS IMPORTANCE AND SENSITIVITY EVERY WORD MUST BE CAREFULLY WEIGHED AND JUDGED BY WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE TALKS. AS HAVE SAID ON MANY OCCASIONS, IT WAS NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT THOSE TALKS COULD REACH A QUICK CONCLUSION. WE REMAIN DETERMINED TO DO OUR UTMOST TO PURSUE THEM TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. YOUDE
LEGAL ADVISER LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPTES TO
LIMITED
SIR IAN SINCLAIR
MR BURROWS
HD/HKD
HD/FED
MR ROBERTS
HD/PLANNING STAFF
MR MARTIN
HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
MR FLOWER
PS/MR LUCE
MR COLES
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD MR WRIGHT
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SIR A PARSONS NO 10 DOWNING STREET
MR WALKER
RESEARCH D OAB 2/82
SECRET
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