TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 176

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4. A PRESS RELEASE ON THE MINISTERIAL MESSAGES IN YOUR TELNOS 534

AND 536 WILL BE ISSUED THIS EVENING AND MAY HELP TO REDUCE THE

IMPACT OF THIS STORY. TEXT IS AS FOLLOWS:

**THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN SPECIAL

RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE HAVE SENT

PERSONAL MESSAGES TO THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. IN THESE MESSAGES THEY REAFFIRM HMG'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG, AND TO SEEKING A SOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF

HONG KONG AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT SUCH A SOLUTION CAN BE ACHIEVED. THE TWO MINISTERS LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF

EXCO AND LEGCO''.

650

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KÒNG

COPIES TO

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR-LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MB GIFFARD

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

2

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR ROBERTS

MR MARTIN

MR FLOWER

MR COLES

NEWS D

ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SIR A PARSONS 11.

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