TNAG-1246-FCO40-1560-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 6

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AN UNSETTLING EFFECT. INTERNATIONAL AND EXTERNAL CONFIDENCE HAVE SUFFERED, AND THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN FELT IN ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY UNQUOTE.

SOURCE: REPLY TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON

2 MARCH.

QUOTE MEETINGS IN PEKING THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS ARE CONTINUING. THE COMMON AIM, AGREED DURING MY RIGHT HON FRIEND THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA LAST SEPTEMBER, IS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, THE CONTENT OF THESE MEETINGS MUST REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL UNQUOTE.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE IN HONG KONG ON 12 MARCH.

QUOTE THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG TODAY FROM LONDON THAT HE AND BRITAIN'S AMBASSADOR TO BEIJING,

SIR PERCY CRADOCK, HAD HAD A VERY GOOD WEEK IN LONDON..

2. SIR EDWARD SAID QUOTE IT WAS VERY VALUABLE THAT SIR PERCY

AND I COULD BE IN LONDON AT THE SAME TIME TO GO OVER THE SITUATION WITH MINISTERS AND IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY USEFUL

REVIEW UNQUOTE.

3. WHILE OF COURSE HE COULD NOT GO INTO THE CONTENTS OF THE DISCUSSIONS, THEY WERE A VERY USEFUL PREPARATION FOR SIR PERCY'S RETURN TO BEIJING UNQUOTE, THE GOVERNOR ADDED.

4. SIR PERCY, ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM PRESSMEN AT THE AIRPORT, SAID QUOTE THE TALKS WILL GO ON UNQUOTE, ADDING THAT THE DISCUSSIONS JUST CONCLUDED WERE VERY VERY SATISFACTORY - VERY USEFUL TALKS.

5. THE GOVERNOR, ASKED IF HE WOULD BE GOING TO BEIJING AGAIN, SAID HE WOULD DO SO AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE A POINT AT WHICH MY

PARTICIPATION WOULD BE USEFUL.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE HONG KONG ON 12 MARCH.

QUOTE DURING HIS STOP OVER IN HONG KONG ON HIS WAY TO BEIJING, THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO BEIJING TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET

MENDERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

2. DIR PERCY CRADOCK LATER LEFT FOR KAI TAK TO CATCH HIS

FLIGHT TO BEIJING UNQUOTE.

SOURCE: CHIEF SECRETARY'S UNATTRIBUTABLE PRESS BRIEFING ON

15 MARCH.

QUOTE THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR A REFERENDUM OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE FUTURE.

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