TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 106

MR LUCE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG : 24 TO 28 SEPTEMBER 1983

BRIEF NO 13 : PRESS CONFERENCE

A STATEMENT AT PRESS CONFERENCE

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This is the first time I have visited Hong Kong since I took over responsibility for Hong Kong in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

in June, although I have of course been here before. My visit has given me the chance to see a great deal of Hong Kong, to meet a wide cross-section of people, and to listen to their views. I have had

most useful meetings with the Governor, with senior officials and with UMELCO as well as with many other people actively involved in Hong Kong affairs. Like all who return to Hong Kong after some time, I have been particularly struck by the pace and extent of development and change.

It was obvious to me, even before I came here, that the future of

Hong Kong would be uppermost in your minds. This is the most important subject with which I deal in London. Much of my time is spent on it, and I am able to benefit from frequent and incisive

reports from the Governor and his staff. But I regard it as essential to come here and hear at first-hand the views of Hong Kong people on this vital question. For my part I would like to reiterate that it remains the aim of Her Majesty's Government to reach a settlement that is acceptable to both the British and Chinese Governments and to the people of Hong Kong.

It is now a year since the Prime Minister sat here in a Press Conference at the end of her visit to China and Hong Kong. I imagine that many of you will be wanting to ask me what has been achieved since then. As you know, talks between the British and Chinese Governments have been taking place in Peking over the last year. The Governor has attended the last 4 rounds as a key member of the British delegation. You will not expect me to reveal the content of these talks, but what I can say is this: they have been conducted in a friendly atmosphere. Neither side has been afraid to state its views plainly, but both sides are conscious of the common