TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 180

START AN EXODUS

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**YACHT PEOPLE,** AS ONE LOCAL JOKE HAS IT

THAT WOULD LEAVE HONG KONGS THRIVING ECONOMY IN A SHAMBLES. VISA

APPLICATIONS ROSE SHARPLY AFTER THATCHERS VISIT TO PEKING

LAST SEPTEMBER AND MIGHT AGAIN IF PEKING AND LONDON ARE UNABLE TO

RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES. ''DONT FORGET THAT HONG KONG HAS 5

MILLION PEOPLE WHOSE GRANDPARENTS VOTED WITH THEIR FEET SQUARE BRACKET TO LEAVE SQUARE BRACKET CHINA,'' SAYS TREVOR BEDFORD, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG LAND, A VAST PROPERTY CONGLOMERATE. THEY MAY WANT TO DO SO AGAIN IF PEKING MAKES IT CLEAR

THAT HONG KONGS FREEWHEELING WAY OF LIFE IS DOOMED AFTER 1997.

ENDS.

HUCKLE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMINED HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

MR GIFFARD

SIR J BULLARD

COPIES TO

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR MARTIN

MR FLOWER

ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

PUSD

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SIR A PARSONS П

17

M

MR DONALD MR WRIGHT

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