CONFIDENTIAL
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INVOLVEMENT OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG:
21. THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION TAKES PLACE AT MANY LEVELS,
OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL, FORMAL AND INFORMAL. AN IMPORTANT STAGE
IN IT WAS THE VISIT TO LONDON IN JULY BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
THE PROCESS IS A CONTINUOUS ONE AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS
BEING GIVEN AS TO HOW IT CAN BEST BE PURSUED. MANY CHANNELS
ALREADY EXIST THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN.
THE VIEWS I HAVE HEARD DURING MY OWN VISIT ARE IMMENSELY HELPFUL.
WISHES OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG:
22.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE VIEWS OF THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE
TALKS.
'ACCEPTABILITY' OF PROPOSALS TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG :
23. WE SHALL, ON A CONTINUING BASIS, KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH
THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THROUGH THE EXISTING MEANS.
WHEN THE MAIN LINE OF THE SETTLEMENT HAS EMERGED, WE SHALL
CONSIDER WHAT MEANS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR TESTING ITS
ACCEPTABILITY IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG.
INDEPENDENCE FOR HONG KONG :
WITH THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE DUE TO EXPIRE IN 1997, THIS
IS NOT A FEASIBLE OPTION.
24.
VISIT BY SECRETARY OF STATE:
25. THERE ARE NO PLANS AT PRESENT FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO
VISIT HONG KONG OR CHINA.
VISIT BY SIR PERCY CRADOCK:
26.
THE AMBASSADOR HAS TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT HONG KONG
AT THE TIME OF MY VISIT AS HE DID WHEN LORD BELSTEAD WAS HERE IN
DECEMBER. THIS IS VERY USEFUL FOR ME.
FREQUENT CHANGE OF MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG :
27. THESE THINGS HAPPEN BUT LIFE GOES ON. I CAN UNDERSTAND HONG
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