TNAG-1248-FCO40-1562-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 89

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4. MOST INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS PICKED UP A TVB NEWS REPORT WHICH CLAIMED THAT A 13-POINT PROPOSAL HAD BEEN PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE DELEGATION DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THAT CHINA HAD PROMISED A 50-YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD FOR BRITAIN TO RETURN SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG TO CHINA (THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEVELOP- MENT OF THE STORY IN THE MONTHLY QUOTE THE MIRROR UNQOTE:

MY TELNO 988 PARA 5). HOWEVER, THE SAME PAPERS ALSO QUOTED THE EMBASSY'S DENIAL OF THE STORY. THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO THE STORY IN THE COMMUNIST PRESS.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

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PS/LADY YOUNG

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SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

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MR WALKER, RESEARCH DEPT (GOGGS)-

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