TNAG-1245-FCO40-1559-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 99

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3.

SIR S.Y. CHUNG:

Senior Unofficial Exco Member, Sir S.Y. Chung, was in London last week on a private visit. Speaking to newsmen on his return on 6 May, Sir S.Y. said he had had talks on HK's future with the Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Pym, the Minister of State, Lord Belstead, and the Permanent Under Secretary, Sir Anthony Acland. He said the British Government would continue to support the people of HK on the 1997 question. Mrs. Thatcher retained a personal interest in the matter which also attracted a lot of attention from many British ministers. The discussions indicated the importance both HK and Britain attached to the subject.

4.

MPs' VISIT:

At the end of a week-long visit, two Conservative MPs, Mr. Mark Carlisle and Mr. Tony Durant, told a news conference on Saturday they were aware that people in HK wanted the status quo maintained and they would try to convey this impression to the British Government. Mr. Carlisle said the British Parliamentary system would ensure that any decision on the territory's future was acceptable to the people of HK. A change in the status quo of HK would probably require a change in legislation. Parliament was waiting for an official statement on the Sino-British talks. When it came, there would be a debate. He said the visit convinced him of the need for the talks to be resolved as soon as possible. Mr. Durant said apart from the 1997 issue HK appeared to be concerned with two other issues, illegal immigrants and Vietnamese refugees. He was impressed by HK's dynamism and vitality.

5.

GUANGDONG N-PLANT:

There were a number of interesting developments concerning the Guangdong nuclear plant. A Xinhua despatch on 3 May said the visiting French President, Mr. Mitterrand, had discussed with Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang the supply of French equipment to the proposed nuclear plants in China. An AFP despatch later quoted a spokesman for the French President as saying that France and China were about to sign a memorandum on the supply of four French reactors to China, of which two would be used in the Guangdong N-plant. On 4 May, the Financial Secretary, Mr. John Bremridge, said at a press briefing that the Government had appointed British consultants to study the effects of the Guangdong N-plant on HK in respect of both the financial and technological aspects. He was quoted as saying that the N-plant would be operational by 1991 and that HK might purchase 70 pc of the electricity generated.

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