TNAG-1235-FCO40-1548-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 120

CONFIDENTIAL

3) THE CONTENT OF THE TALKS MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. IN THIS CONNECTION YOU SHOULD STRESS THAT INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS CANNOT BE CONDUCTED SUCCESSFULLY IN PUBLIC. PEOPLE SHOULD THEREFORE NOT BE PREJUDICED BY WHAT THEY HEAR SAID OUTSIDE THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS. THERE ARE, OF COURSE DIFFERENCES WHICH NEED TO BE RECONCILED. THAT IS WHAT THE TALKS ARE FOR. THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE BOTH EXPRESSED THEIR BELIEF THAT THE DIFFERENCES (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) CAN BE RECONCILED. CONFIDENTIAL TALKS ARE THE RIGHT AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING THIS.

C. WE ARE TODAY DESPATCHING BY BAG EXCERPTS FROM IMPORTANT SPEECHES AND POINTS MADE IN PRESS CONFERENCES, ON WHICH YOU ARE ENTIRELY FREE TO DRAW.

HADDON-CAVE

MINIMAL

HRGD

COPIES

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HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

له

CONFIDENTIAL

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