TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 41

RESTRICTED

4. THE LEADER OF THE GROUP OF NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT 30ARD MEMBERS WHO WERE RECEIVED BY JAN PENGREY ON 15 NOVEMBER MADE A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS GIVING DETAILS OF THE DISCUSSION WITH JN. THE TA KUNG PAQ AND WEN WEN PO USED THE STORY AS THEIR FRONT PAGE LEAD, AS DID THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST AND SOME INDEPENDENT CHINESE-LANGUAGE

NEWSPAPERS. J WAS QUOTED AS HAVING OMVEN AN ASSURANCE THAT NO

OFFICIALS WOULD BE SENT FROM CHINA TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997 AND

THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS.

CHIWA WOULD GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG THROUGH A SPECIAL SERIES OF BASIC LAWS FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WHICH WOULD BECOME AN APPENDIX TO ARTICLE 31 OF THE CONSTITUTION. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE

CONSULTED ABOUT THESE LAWS BEFORE THEY WERE SUBMITTED TO THE

NATIONAL PEOPLES' CONGRESS FOR APPROVAL.

5. THE ARRIVAL IN. HONG KONG OF MR, RICHARD EVANS, BRITISH AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO PEKING, WAS ALSO GAVEN WIDESPREAD COVERAGE. ALL PAPERS REPORTED MR. EVANS' REMARKS TO THE PRESS ON HIS ARRIVAL,

KN PARTICULAR HIS INTENTION OF MEETING A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE DURING HIS VISHT. MR. EVANS' ARRIVAL WAS GAVEN ROUTINE

COVERAGE BY THE COMMUNIST PRESS.

SHAY

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

SD/FKD

ED/FED

HD/PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA DISTR. ROOM)

SIR PHILIP MOORE BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND

ED/PLANNING STAFF

D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RESEARCH DEPT(MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER(SIR IAN SINCLAIR)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PSAR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:

(VIA ADR)

NEWS DEPT

MR ROBERTS

MR. BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR A PARSONS

MR MARTIN

ASSESSMENT STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE MR BRENNAN

17

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

RESTRICTED