MR LUCE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG
BRIEF NO 13 : PRESS CONFERENCE
A STATEMENT AT PRESS CONFERENCE
24 TO 28 SEPTEMBER 1983
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”
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