TNAG-1245-FCO40-1559-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 108

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Transcript__of_meeting: HK Daily News said Legco had asked for a transcript of the talks between Mr. Liao Chengzhi and the HK Factory Owners' Association delegation during its visit to Beijing in October. The paper said the transcript of the two-hour talks would be submitted to Exco. Some of the points which had not been revealed previously included the fact that Mrs. Thatcher had not mentioned the three treaties governing HK while she was in Beijing; long-term plans were drawn up in 1980 to undo policies made during the Cultural Revolution; and that an appeal was made to local property developers not to speculate in

land.

Double Tracking: The English-language China Daily, published in Beijing, said China intended to raise $1 100m in HK to finance double tracking work on the railway line between Shenzhen and Guangzhou to cope with increasing traffic. The general manager of the HK Bank, Mr. Peter Wrangham, said his bank was very interested in taking part in the fund-raising exercise for the project. The bank had been informed of the project by the Chinese Government and further discussions would be held.

Survey on 1997: The Hong Kong Prospects Institute has suggested that the Government conduct a comprehensive public opinion survey on the 1997 issue, the findings of which should serve as the basis for deciding the territory's future status. The Institute stressed that any decision on Hong Kong's future should accord with the wishes of local residents.

Nuclear power plant: The Chinese Communist Party chairman, Mr. Hu Yaobang, has, according to an AP item in the SCMP on 9 May, raised the possibility of Chinese- Rumanian cooperation in the construction of nuclear power plants, following a visit to Rumania's first atomic power station.

LIA: The SCMP reported on 4 May that the Local Inspectors' Association had decided at its recent AGM not to discuss its efforts to secure the right of abode in the UK for its members; instead, the matter should be discussed initially by the executive committee. The chairman of the Association said an analysis of the findings of the returned questionnaires was expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

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